Apache tests another discovery in Egypt's Faghur basin

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 13 -- Houston-based Apache Corp.’s WKAL-A-2X discovery tested 5,085 b/d of oil and 130 Mcfd of gas, marking the fourth successful exploration test in West Kalabsha concession and the company's sixth discovery in the Faghur basin play in Egypt's far Western Desert near the Libyan border.

The WKAL-A-2X discovery is a 0.5 miles north of the Apache WKAL-A-1X discovery and 5 miles west of Apache's Phiops field. “With this latest discovery and other recent wells, we anticipate production from the Phiops-West Kalabsha area will double to 20,000 b/d as additional infrastructure is brought on line in the third quarter,” said Rod Eichler, Apache's co-chief operating officer and president of international operations. “We estimate the discovered resource potential in the Phiops and Kalabsha areas exceeds 50 million boe.”

Apache has identified several additional prospects and is acquiring more 3D seismic in the Faghur basin in hopes of extending its string of successes to the northeast and southwest of this most recent discovery. Eichler said, “The thickness of the sands and the stacked pay zones make this a very attractive area for further exploration.”

Apache plans to drill seven additional exploration wells in the Faghur basin play this year.

The latest well was designed to test Cretaceous-age Alam El Buieb (AEB) formations in a new fault block in a structurally higher position than the WKAL-A-1X well. The WKAL-A-2X logged a total of 198 ft of pay in four AEB intervals including the 3G interval that was highly productive in a test of the WKAL-A-1X well. The latest well was perforated over the top 10 ft of a 29-ft section of the AEB-3C10 sand.

Apache has applied for a development lease with the Egyptian General Petroleum Co. for both discoveries. Apache operates the West Kalabsha concession and has 100% contractor interest.