By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 30 -- Apache Corp., Houston, gauged two new Jurassic oil and gas field discoveries in the Faghur basin play in the far southwest part of Egypt's western desert producing complex and the first discovery in the North Tarek concession near the Mediterranean coast.
The discoveries and further development will add to Apache's 102,000 b/d of liquid hydrocarbon production in the Khalda area. The wells also highlight the resource to be found in the Cretaceous Alam El Buieb formations, which contribute 30% of the Khalda output.
Phiops-1x, a new field discovery in the 100% owned South Umbarka concession 2½ miles northwest of Apache's Kalabsha field, cut 173 ft of oil pay in the AEB-3 formation and 103 ft in the Jurassic Safa formation. It flow-tested 2,278 b/d of oil and 5 MMcfd of gas from the Safa and is making 1,619 b/d and 4.1 MMcfd.
Apache has spud two appraisal wells, Phiops-2 and 5, to better define the potential in both formations.
The WKAL-A-1x discovery, in the West Kalabsha concession 5 miles west of Phiops-1x, was drilled to test closures at three levels in AEB and Safa. It logged 202 ft of pay in AEB-2 and 3 and 17 ft of pay in the Jurassic Zahra formation.
The Zahra tested at 770 b/d of 44° gravity oil and 4 MMcfd. A 28-ft perforated interval in AEB-3G tested at 16 MMcfd of gas and 2,906 b/d of 52° gravity condensate.
Apache, with 100% contractor interest in West Kalabsha, will apply for a development lease.
The Faghur basin discoveries "highlight significant potential for new oil and gas reserves and production following Apache's WKAL-C-1X Jurassic discovery drilled last year," the company said. "Apache plans to continue an exploration, appraisal and development program in 2009 to capitalize on these successes. Two new 3D seismic surveys will commence this summer."
Meanwhile, the NTRK-C-1X, 2.7 miles from Apache's Tarek gas plant and 6 miles from the Matruh-5, is Apache's first new field discovery in the North Tarek concession near the coast. The well logged 48 ft of AEB-6 pay that tested at the rate of 3,489 b/d of 44° gravity oil and 5 MMcfd of gas.
The nearest AEB-6 production is at Flanders field in Matruh concession 6 miles northwest. The test result helps high-grade other prospects on nearby Apache leasehold. Apache has a 100% contractor interest in North Tarek.
At Matruh field, 6 miles west of NTRK-C-1X, the Matruh-5 was recompleted in the AEB-6 formation. An 18-ft section was perforated and tested at 2,362 b/d of 42° gravity oil and 1 MMcfd of gas. Matruh field has produced more than 3 million bbl of oil and 36 bcf of gas from Safa since 2002. Apache has a 100% contractor interest in the Matruh concession.
