Apache finds more oil and gas in Egypt's Western Desert

Uchenna Izundu
International Editor

LONDON, Jan. 10 -- Apache Corp. reported encouraging results from several recent wells drilled in Egypt's Western Desert.

Its Qasr 34 appraisal well has tested 18.4 MMcfd of gas and 725 b/d of condensate after reaching a TD of 14,000 ft in Jurassic Lower Safa rock. The well extends the Qasr field, 2.5 km to the northwest, adding 2,200 acres to the field, Apache said.

Wireline logs indicate 96 ft of net pay in the upper sand of the Lower Safa at 13,328-13,442 ft. A total of 72 ft of Lower Safa pay at 13,328-13,400 ft was tested through a 3/4-in. choke with 2,000 pounds psi of wellhead pressure.

Separately, the Zasr 36 well flowed 2,945 b/d of oil and 2.1 MMcfd of gas. The well was a new Alam El Bueib (AEB) discovery in the field. Apache drilled the well to 12,424 ft in AEB 3G sands and targeted AEB 3D and 3E sands. Log analysis showed 58 ft of net pay in the AEB 3D and 3E sands.

Also the Hathor Deep 1X well on the Khalda Offset concession tested 12 MMcfd of gas in the AEB 6 formation and 1,237 b/d of oil from the AEB 3D formation. Apache will proceed with developing the Hathor Deep 1X having received approval from state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. It has installed surface equipment and needs the petroleum minister's approval before it can begin production.

The Qasr 40 well logged 60 ft of net oil pay in the AEB 3E sands and in secondary pay intervals in the AEB 3A and 3C. The new well is a step-out northwest from the Qasr 31, which currently produces 2,005 b/d.

The Kenz 35 well will be completed in the AEB 3E formation as a gas and condensate producer. Apache said it was drilled 1 km northwest of the nearest producing well in the Kenz field on the Khalda Ridge. Kenz 35 logged 140 ft of AEB net pay as well as 18 ft of net pay in the Upper Bahariya.

Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].