Apache's Qasr-2X confirms Egypt discovery
Posted: 7 November 2003
Apache Corporation said its Egyptian Qasr-2X appraisal well confirms
the Qasr-1X discovery announced in July.
"The Qasr-2X well has a 707-foot gross hydrocarbon column
and logs indicate that net Jurassic pay in the Qasr-2X increases
to 669 feet, versus 461 feet in the Qasr-1X discovery," said
G. Steven Farris, Apache president and chief executive officer.
"We believe the importance of these two wells extends to the
wellbeing of Egypt while appearing to be the most significant in
Apache's 49-year history," he added. "Reserve potential
is now in the range of 1 trillion to 3 trillion cubic feet of gas
and 20 million to 70 million barrels of condensate.
Apache expects to drill four additional appraisal wells in the
area, which, based on 3-D seismic data, potentially encompasses
more than 13,000 acres. These additional wells will enable Apache
to better define potential reserves and determine pipeline and gas
processing infrastructure requirements.
An additional 62 feet of pay was logged at shallower depths in
the AEB sands; these sands produce oil in the Ozoris Field approximately
2.4 miles northeast of the Qasr-2X well.
"We recently completed a 6-inch pipeline that will accommodate
30 million cubic feet (MMcf) of gas per day from the Qasr-1X discovery,
and we expect to begin production within two weeks," Farris
said.
"We believe we have kicked off a new play for condensate-rich
Jurassic gas, and we expect additional exploratory drilling and
3-D seismic acquisition in the near future."
"Further analysis of the Qasr-1X discovery in light of the
confirmation well suggests that what we thought was a combination
of Jurassic Lower Safa and Ras Qattara pay is all Lower Safa,"
Farris said. We do not believe we have penetrated the Ras Qattara
sands on this structure as of yet. Our net- to-gross in the Lower
Safa sand package increased from 76 percent in Qasr-1X to 93 percent
in Qasr-2X."
The new field is located on the Khalda Concessions, which Apache
operates with a 100 percent contractor interest. The latest well
is 1.6 miles from the Qasr-1X, which test-flowed a combined 51.8
MMcf of gas and 2,688 barrels of condensate per day from flow tests
in two zones in the Lower Safa formation.
Apache is evaluating whether to test the Lower Safa in light of
the quality of the log and the current condition of the Qasr-2X
wellbore. Any tests in the Lower Safa will be restricted by the
diameter of the pipe.
Apache Corporation is a large oil and gas independent exploration
and production company with core operations in the United States,
Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea and Western Australia.
For more inforamation see www.apachecorp.com.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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