Israel onshore wildcat approaches target

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, May 25 -- Zion Oil & Gas, Dallas, was drilling below 11,571 ft on May 25 at a wildcat reentry projected to Triassic carbonates in northwestern Israel.

Ma'anit-1 has a primary objective in Triassic Mohilla reefal dolomite on the 95,800-acre License 298/Ma'anit-Joseph. That formation is expected at 12,600 ft.

Lapidoth Israel Oil Prospectors Corp. has the contract to deepen the well to 14,850 ft.

Ma'anit-1 was spudded in 1995 and abandoned at 7,661 ft in Middle Jurassic due to insufficient funds (see map, OGJ, July 5, 2004, p. 42). Israel extended License 298 for 2 years through Apr. 30, 2007.

Meanwhile, Givot Olam Oil Exploration LP, Jerusalem, plans to spud a horizontal well, possibly within weeks, targeting oil in the Mohilla in undeveloped Meged oil field 20 km northeast of Tel Aviv and south of License 298.