Apache's third well on Egypt's Khalda concession 'confirms' 1-3 tcf in gas reserves

Houston-based Apache Corp. reported Tuesday that its Qasr-3X well, drilled on Egypt's Khalda Concession, found 448 ft of net natural gas pay in the Jurassic Lower Safa formation.

March 2, 2004

2 min read

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Mar. 2 -- Houston-based Apache Corp. reported Tuesday that its Qasr-3X well, drilled on Egypt's Khalda Concession, found 448 ft of net natural gas pay in the Jurassic Lower Safa formation.

The Qasr-3X well was drilled 2.1 km northwest of the independent's Qasr-2X well (OGJ Online, Dec. 4, 2003) and 3.5 km west-northwest of its Qasr-1X discovery (OGJ Online, July 7, 2003). The well had "the same gas-water contact seen in the first two wells," said Apache Pres. and CEO G. Steven Farris.

With the drilling of the third well, Apache said it was able to "fully confirm" its original reserves estimate of 1-3 tcf of natural gas and 20-60 million bbl of condensate for the Qasr area.

Apache plans no further testing of the third well at this time. This year, the company will drill three additional Jurassic delineation wells and at least one shallower Alam El Bueb (AEB) Cretaceous well at Qasr.

Apache said that facilities design and procurement are under way to develop an extensive pipeline system from Qasr. The field will be linked to a gas supply hub at Apache's Shams gas field with the ability to transport gas to three existing gas processing plants, two of which are operated by Apache's Khalda Petroleum Co. joint venture.

Apache's Qasr-1X discovery well, completed in July 2003, tested at 51.8 MMcfd of gas and 2,688 b/d of condensate from two zones. On test, Qasr-2X flowed 35.4 MMcfd of gas and 1,320 b/d of condensate last December. Qasr-2X is currently producing down a 6-in. line to the Salam Plant at a restricted rate of 10 MMcfd of gas and 400 b/d of condensate.

Following the drilling of the Qasr-2X well, the Egyptian government granted a 95 sq mile development lease to Apache, the company said. An additional 62 ft of pay was logged at shallower depths of the Qasr-2X in the AEB sands that produce oil in the Ozoris field, 4 km to the northeast.

Apache also drilled the Qasr-7X well to 11,672 ft TD, 234 yards south of the Qasr-2X, to develop the AEB reservoirs. Qasr-7X tested at an initial 1,579 b/d of oil from 20 ft of perforations in the AEB-3D reservoir, the firm said.