Biggest natural gas find in Egypt's Western Desert
Egypt, Economics, 7/9/2003

Apache Corporation Monday said it discovered its most significant find to date in Egypt's western desert.

The Qasr tested at a combined rate of 51.8 million cubic feet of natural gas IX and 2,688 barrels of condensate per day from two zones. The well logged 606 feet of net pay from six formations between 6,917 feet and 13,581 feet.

"The qasr is the most significant gas discovery in the Western desert IX in the last decade," said Apache CEO and President G. Steven Farris.

"It is perhaps the most significant discovery in Apache s 49-year history and establishes the Western Desert as an important hydrocarbon province well into the 21st century."

A production test of the Lower Safa reservoir from perforations between 12,908 feet and 13,084 feet yielded 38.1 million cubic feet of gas and 2,155 barrels of condensate per day from a one-inch choke with 2,S49 pound per square inch (psi) of flowing wellhead pressure.

The thickest pay interval of 311 net feet was found in the Jurassic Ras Qattara reservoir, but only 90 feet of the least prospective upper zone could be tested due to mechanical problems encountered while completing the well.

Perforated between 13,252 feet and 13,345 feet, it test-flowed 13.7 million cubic feet of gas and 533 barrels of condensate per day on a one-inch choke with 581 psi of flowing wellhead pressure.

"The lower part of the Ras Qattara that we were unable to test appears to be of even better quality than the upper interval," Farris said.

" The Ras Qattara-is a blanket sand which tends to cover very large areas," he noted.

The discovery is in the Ozoris area of Apache's Khalda Concession, in which the company holds a 10 per cent contractor interest. It was identified by a 105-square-mile 3D seismic survey acquired in 2002.

Preliminary plans are to connect the-new field to Apache's Salam gas plant, located approximately 17 miles from the discovery.

Apache Corporation is a large oil and gas independent with core operations in the United States, Canada, the UK North Sea, Egypt and Australia.

Previous Stories:
  An economic report: British Gas signs contract for 3.6 millions tons of Egyptian gas   (7/4/2003)
  New petroleum investments in Egypt   (6/19/2003)
  Egypt, Jordan review final touches in Arab national gas pipeline   (6/17/2003)

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