British Gas plc's BG Tunisia Inc. is expanding its exploration campaign in Tunisia, where it has acquired more acreage and tested two oil strikes.
BG increased its acreage in Tunisia to almost 13,000 sq km with acquisition of the 5,992 sq km Roumedia block, the largest single permit in the country.
The tract lies immediately north of the company's Amilcar and West Kerkennah permits.
BG's 1 North Kerkennah wildcat flowed at a rate of 1,100 b/d of oil with no water through a 1/2 in. choke from pay at 1,450 m in Eocene Reineche, a nummulitic limestone not previously productive in Tunisia.
Appraisal drilling is under way, along with engineering studies to determine the best means to develop the North Kerkennah reservoir. Site is in shallow water 6 km northwest of the Kerkennah Islands off East Central Tunisia.
Three appraisal wells have shown test rates of 1,600-2,400 b/d of 26-29 gravity oil.
BG's 1 Salloum wildcat on the West Kerkennah permit produced as much as 1,800 b/d of 42 gravity oil with no water from pay at 3,200 m. Site is in shallow water 5 km northeast of the port of Sfax.
Geophysical and engineering studies are under way to help select appraisal drillsites.
BG operates the West Kerkennah permit with a 49% interest. Its 51% partner is state owned Enterprise Tunisienne d'Activites Petrolieres. The North Kerkennah discovery is on a 412 sq km annex added to the West Kerkennah block in 1991.
BG also operates the Amilcar permit, which includes Miskar gas field with about 1 tcf of recoverable reserves. BG plans to start Miskar development late this year.
The company also holds a 15% interest in the South Kerkennah permit operated by a unit of Amoco Corp.
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