Tunisia: Offshore 2D seismic survey completed

Aug. 22, 2011
Shell Tunisia Offshore GmbH has completed a long offset 2D seismic survey on its Azmour and Raf Raf blocks and the adjacent Kerkouane license operated by ADX Energy Ltd., Perth, off Tunisia.

Shell Tunisia Offshore GmbH has completed a long offset 2D seismic survey on its Azmour and Raf Raf blocks and the adjacent Kerkouane license operated by ADX Energy Ltd., Perth, off Tunisia.

Under a data exchange and acquisition agreement, ADX and partners will obtain 104 km of 2D seismic over the Kerkouane discovery and surrounding prospective areas.

Old seismic data clearly show the presence of world class structures, but new technology is required to unravel the tectonic complexity and locate new exploratory wells with confidence, ADX said. The new seismic’s goal is to transform the Kerkouane-1 discovery and adjacent leads such as a large Pliocene lead into drillable appraisal and exploration projects.

The Kerkouane-1 well and its sidetrack drilled by Shell in 1981 had well control issues such as massive gas kicks and gas influx at relatively shallow reservoir levels. Solvent cut oil shows in sidewall cores suggest the possibility of an oil rim. The well never reached the main target, i.e. the Cretaceous reservoir, which is also the main gas-condensate bearing reservoir in the Dougga appraisal project.

Due to the large size of the Kerkouane -1 structure, the resource potential can be expected to be in the order of the Dougga and Lambouka discoveries, ADX said.

The Kerkouane joint venture consists of ADX 60%, Gulfsands Petroleum PLC 30%, and XState Resources Ltd. 10%.

Meanwhile, ADX is delaying the spud of the Sidi Dhaher well on the Chorbane license off Tunisia until all critical spare parts are on site and fully tested. One of those parts is a choke line being sourced from Egypt.

Participants in the Sidi Dhaher-1 well are ADX 40%, Gulfsands 40%, XState 10%, and Verus Investments Ltd. 10%.