New oil wells will be drilled in Morocco next year
Morocco, Economics, 9/4/2000

Six new oil wells will be drilled in Talsint, eastern Morocco, and in an off-shore area in the region of Casablanca as of September 2001.

The announcement was made over the weekend by Amina Benkhadra, director general of L'Office National de Recherches et d'Exploitations Petrolieres (ONAREP).

Ms. Benkhadra told the Moroccan TV channel RTM that Lone Star Energy company-- an off-shoot of the US Skidmore inc-- has been granted several oil exploration licenses in the region of Loukous, Northern Morocco, Essaouira, Labrouj and in an off-shore area near Casablanca. She said geophysical studies conducted by the firm showed similarities between the structures in Talsint and structures in other parts of the kingdom.

Ms Benkhadra described the oil reserves in the off-shore area as very interesting from the geological standpoint. The sedimentary basins of this area, she said, extend over 320 KM" and their characteristics are similar to those of basins exploited in other countries such as Angola, Congo, Gabon and Mexico.

She said she was confident that the exploration works would entail positive results and added several oil companies have applied for exploration licenses in other regions of Morocco. Besides Lone Star Energy company which is conducting exploration operations in the Talsint region, other firms, such as the Dutch "Shell" and the British "Entreprises" have submitted exploration requests in the region of Tiznit, southern Morocco.

Lone Star Energy company will conduct experiments to accurately assess the volume of reserves, Ms Benkhadra said adding that the reserves of the Sidi Belkacem I wells are assessed at 7.5 to 10 million barrels.

King Mohammed VI announced on August 20 the discovery of important oil and gas deposits in the Moroccan eastern region of Talsint and visited a few days later the Sidi Belkacem I oil field and the drilling platform where he heard explanations on the drilling operations and on the geological, technical and seismic characteristics of the site.

Previous Stories:
  Sidi Belkacem I well contains 7.5 to 10 mln barrels, oil company chief   (8/30/2000)
  Morocco's trade balance deficit worsens by 39.8 %   (8/30/2000)
  Morocco's trade deficit worsens   (7/19/2000)

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