Lone star energy will start drilling site of Casablanca
Morocco, Business, 9/30/2000

Lone Star Energy (LSE), a Moroccan-based and associated company of Skidmore Energy, Inc. USA, announced on Friday that it will start off-shore drilling operation off Kenitra next November 10, and off Casablanca, next February 1.

The company signed four contracts with Croat firms, to start the drilling operations in the zone, Michael H. Gustin, LSE Co-Founder and board chairman said at a press conference. He termed as promising the drilling prospects in the area.

The first will be drilled to an approximate depth of 3800 m to test the Pre-Rif Nappe, Cretaceous and Jurassic age sediments, he said.

The second well will be drilled on Lone Star's recently acquired Casablanca Block -20 km west of Casablanca. The well is in less than 100 m of water and will be drilled to an approximate depth of 300 m to test the Cretaceous-Ordivician sediments.

LES said the reserves that can be exploited over the 3,700 square Kilometers under its licenses, are estimated at

1 billion barrels. These reserves can be exploited in three to four years, LSE said.

The company said it will start complementary works of the Sidi Belkacem I well in Talsint, south-eastern Morocco, next October 15. The drilling of a second well at Talsint will start next November, said the company, adding that other drillings are scheduled.

The Sidi Belkacem I well will produce 2,500 to 3,000 barrels of oil per day, Gustin said, adding that extracted hydrocarbons will start to be piped after identifying the percentages of gas and oil.

If there is more oil than gas, the output will be conveyed by some thirty lorries to Bouarfa, 50 km from Talsint, to be then shipped by train to refineries in Mohammedia or Sidi Kacem.

If gas is dominant, a pipeline linking the Sidi Belkacem well to the Maghreb-Europe one will be constructed, he said.

Lone Star Chief said Morocco will get 25 per cent of the extracted hydrocarbons, royalties of 3 to 10 percent.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco's oil bill to exceed one billion dollars   (9/12/2000)
  New oil wells will be drilled in Morocco next year   (9/4/2000)
  Sidi Belkacem I well contains 7.5 to 10 mln barrels, oil company chief   (8/30/2000)

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