SDX Energy to tie in fifth West Gharib infill well

SDX Energy PLC will tie the MSD-23 infill development well into existing facilities and flow test the MA-1X discovery in its Egyptian concessions.

Drilling of MSD-23 on Meseda field in the West Gharib concession concluded and encountered the primary top Asl formation reservoir at 3,909 ft MD (3,112 ft TVDSS) and reached a TD of 4,449 ft MD on July 10.

The well encountered 131.5 ft of good-quality, net oil pay sandstone, with 24.1% average porosity in the Asl formation reservoir. The net pay was split across three separate sand units, with the upper-most sand covering 7 ft of net pay with 27.4% porosity. This upper oil-bearing sand is at virgin pressure meaning that it has not been depleted by surrounding wells and it also represents an unanticipated upside as it was not included in pre-drill estimates.  MSD-23 will now be tied-in to the existing facilities and flow tested.

MSD-23 is the fifth well in a fully funded, 13-well development campaign on Meseda and Rabul oil fields in the West Gharib concession. Operations at the third well, MSD-20, are expected to recommence later this month following the replacement of a rig which had experienced operational issues. The development drilling campaign is aimed at growing gross production to about 3,500-4,000 b/d by early 2023. The rig will now move to the next well in the campaign.

SDX has 50% working interest in the well.

The company is also testing the MA-1X discovery in the exploration extension area of South Disouq (OGJ Online, June 8, 2022). 

The well test flowed about 8 MMscfd gas commensurate with the Kafr El Sheikh formation reservoir around the well bore which has 31.9% average porosity. Well-head pressure decline over a 3-day production test, however, was higher than expected, which could indicate that a lower volume of gas is connected to the MA-1X well bore compared to predrill estimates, the company said. 

The finding does not change the company's estimate of overall gas in place, but may indicate a change in facies closer than expected to the MA-1X well bore that could be compartmentalizing the gas to some extent, SDX continued. 

The company is undertaking a pressure build up test and will obtain the relevant data from down hole gauges in the coming days. Existing 3D seismic data around the discovery will be reprocessed and reinterpreted. Results are expected to be available in 3 months and will inform the requirements to commercialize the discovery, which may necessitate more wells than the two initially estimated to produce the gas, the company said.

SDX has 67% working interest in the well.