Apache begins production at wells in Western Desert, Egypt

US-based Apache has begun production at a combined rate of 1,625 barrels of oil and 18.7m cubic ft (MMcf) of natural gas per day in the NRQ 3151-1X well, from two intervals of Jurassic Lower Safa Formation in the North Ras Qattara Concession in Western Desert, Egypt.

Logging operations at the well revealed that 100ft of pay sands were found in multiple zones, which include the Cretaceous Upper Bahariya, the Jurassic Zahra, the Upper Safa, and the Lower Safa.

Apache has a 70% operated interest in the North Ras Qattara Concession, while IPR holds the remaining 30% stake.

The company has planned appraisal drilling for the end of 2013, along with an offset Jurassic play and a shallower Bahariya well.

The SIWA L-1X well has flowed oil at a rate of 2,041 barrels per day from the Paleozoic Desouky pay sand, located in the Siwa Concession.

The well has encountered 123ft of hydrocarbon pay in the Cretaceous Alam el Buieb (AEB-3E), AEB-5, Jurassic Safa, and the Desouky zones.

Apache is the operator of the well with a 50% working interest in the Siwa Concession, while Tharwa Petroleum holds the remaining 50% stake.

The NTRK-G-1X well has flowed 14.8 MMcf of natural gas and 1,522 barrels of condensate per day and encountered 60 net ft of Upper Safa hydrocarbon pay, located in the North Tarek Concession within the Matruh Basin.

A gas gathering system, which has been installed in the area by Khalda Petroleum, the joint venture operating company of Apache and the Egyptian General Petroleum, is expected to be completed in the third quarter.

Apache owns a 100% working interest in the North Tarek Concession.

Apache Egypt region vice president and general manager, Thomas M. Maher, said the company’s discoveries in three separate basins reflect the firm’s diverse potential for new oil and gas developments across its concessions.

"This exploration success extends the company’s production base to the northeast at the North Ras Qattara Concession and to the southwest in the Siwa Concession," Maher added.