Gulfsands discovers gas at DOB 1 exploration well in Morocco

Gulfsands Petroleum has discovered gas at the Douar Ouled Balkhair 1 (DOB-1) exploration well in Morocco.

Located within the Rharb Centre permit, onshore Morocco, the well flowed gas to surface at a rate of more than 10 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfpd).

DOB-1 is the third well to be drilled on the Rharb Centre permit. The first two wells, LTU-1 and DRC-1, have also identified gas.

The well was drilled to a depth of 1,140m and encountered the primary reservoir target at a depth of about 808m.

Gulfsands plans to suspend drilling operations after completion of operations.

The company said a detailed technical assessment is undertaken on the DOB-1 and DRC-1 gas discoveries to identify potential locations for additional drilling around the discoveries.

Gulfsands Petroleum CEO Mahdi Sajjad said: "We are delighted with the results of the drilling and flow testing operations at well DOB-1. This is the third consecutive successful exploration drilling result that the Company has achieved in Morocco utilising the 3D seismic data acquired and processed in 2013-2014.

"We are continuing with our efforts to commence production from these discoveries and are receiving much appreciated assistance from ONHYM to ensure this is achieved as soon as possible."

The Rharb drilling programme is focusing on a series of shallow gas anomalies found in the Rharb Centre permit as Miocene-aged fans and channel sands at depths of 1,000m to 1,650m.

Gulfsands has contracted COFOR to provide an onshore drilling unit suitable for the drilling of exploration wells in the Rharb Centre permit area.