Anadarko logs more Algeria discoveries

Anadarko Group's Algerian finds [24770 bytes]

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Houston, and partners have gauged more exploratory successes in Algeria's Illizi-Ghadames basin.

Anadarko Algeria Corp. disclosed 1 El Kheit Et Tessekha (1 EKT) found EKT oil field and 2 El Merk East (2 EME) confirmed 1 EME field discovery.

Operator Anadarko's partners are state-owned Sonatrach; Lasmo plc unit Lasmo Oil (Algeria) Ltd.; and Maersk Olie Algeriet AS, a unit of Maersk Olie Og Gas AS, Denmark.

The 1 EKT and 2 EME wells are located in the northwest and central portions, respectively, of Block 208 in the Sahara Desert, where Anadarko and partners drilled earlier successes about 400 miles south of Algiers (OGJ, Aug. 29, 1994, p. 29). The production-sharing contract with Sonatrach was signed Oct. 23, 1989.

"The 1 EKT discovery is our seventh exploration discovery out of 10 wildcat wells drilled in Algeria since the exploration program began in 1991," said Robert J. Allison, Anadarko chairman, president, and chief executive officer.

Anadarko has a 50% working interest in the Algerian project, before participation at the exploitation stage by Sonatrach, the beneficial interest owner of 10.2% of Anadarko's common stock. Remaining working interests in the project are held equally by Lasmo and Maersk.

According to Anadarko, estimated reserves from discoveries made to date total about 1.5 billion bbl of oil. Reserve estimates are expected to be upgraded soon.

1 EKT

The 1 EKT spudded in September 1996 and was drilled to 12,780 ft TD.

It found 144 ft of net pay in Triassic sands at 9,925-10,252 ft.

During testing, the well flowed at sustained rates of 13,568 b/d of oil and 8.8 MMcfd of gas through an equivalent 79/64-in. choke with 1,067 psi flowing tubing pressure. Oil gravity was 48.8°, with no water, hydrogen sulfide, or carbon dioxide present.

The 1 EME found multiple reservoirs.

Partners will evaluate 1 EKT results and expect to drill a delineation in EKT field.

2 EME

The 2 EME well is the first appraisal at El Merk East (EME) oil field, about 20 km south of the 1 EKT discovery. Drilling began in July 1996.

The 2 EME was drilled to about 13,809 ft TD about 1.5 km from 1 EME discovery, disclosed in 1993. The 2 EME tapped 118 ft of net Triassic and Devonian pay at 8,537-11,247 ft.

Drillstem tests were conducted on three pay zones in 2 EME. First zone tested flowed 3,473 b/d of condensate and 27 MMcfd of gas through a 56/64-in. choke with 2,257 psi flowing tubing pressure. Second zone tested 3,878 b/d of condensate and 25 MMcfd of gas through a 56/64-in. choke with 2,223 psi flowing tubing pressure. Third zone tested 11,176 b/d of oil and 13.9 MMcfd of gas through an equivalent 79/64-in. choke with 1,163 psi flowing tubing pressure.

Results of 2 EME are being evaluated.