A group led by Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Houston, said the initial gross reserve estimate for three discoveries in Algeria is a most likely 324 million bbl of oil and condensate.
An upside reserves case is in excess of 900 million bbl, Anadarko said.
The group filed a discovery report with state owned Sonatrach covering Hassi Berkine field. That report commits the partners to immediately submit a commerciality report to Sonatrach in preparation for early development of the field, on Block 404 in the Ghadames basin in the Sahara desert (see map, OGJ, May 14, 1990, p. 30).
The HBN 1 discovery well flowed 4,900 b/d of 42 gravity oil plus 6.3 MMcfd of gas through a 1/4 in. choke with 1,330 psi flowing tubing pressure on a drillstem test in February 1994. The well, bottomed at 11,251 ft, encountered 75 ft of net oil pay in Triassic sandstones.
Interests are Anadarko Algeria Corp. 50% and Lasmo Oil (Algeria) Ltd. and Maersk Olie Algeriet AS each 25%.
The group signed a production sharing agreement with Sonatrach in 1989 covering exploration and production of liquid hydrocarbons on 5.1 million acres in the Ghadames and Illizi basins southeast of Hassi Messaoud.
THE SCORECARD
Drilling results so far in Algeria are very encouraging, Anadarko said.
Two exploratory wells, BKE 1 and HBE 1, are drilling on Birkene Block 404 and results are expected by mid-June.
Future plans include evaluation of the three announced discoveries and continued exploration of a number of prospects Anadarko said have significant reserve potential.
The group's EME 1 discovery on Block 208 in February 1994 flowed a combined 8,100 b/d of oil and 82 MMcfd of gas from four zones. Drilled to 14,859 ft, it encountered more than 230 ft of net hydrocarbon pay from various Triassic and Devonian sandstones.
The EME 1 is in the Ghadames basin 3.7 miles southeast of the EMK 1 discovery Anadarko and partners announced in February 1993.
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