United Oil & Gas has announced the spudding of the ASD-1X exploration well in the Abu Sennan Licence, Egypt. United holds a 22% working interest in the Licence, which is operated by Kuwait Energy Egypt.

EDC-50 rig

Highlights:

• Drilling of the ASD-1X exploration well, which will test a number of stacked reservoir targets, has commenced
• The well will take up to 60 days to drill and is funded entirely from operational cash flow

ASD-1X is a vertical exploration well, located 12km to the north-east of the producing Al Jahraa Field and primarily targeting the sandstone reservoirs of the Abu Roash “C” and “E”, with the Abu Roash “G” reservoir providing a secondary target. The targeted reservoirs are expected to be encountered between 3,000m and 3,500m measured depth.

The well will be drilled by the EDC-50 rig, which recently completed the successful ASH-3 development well ahead of schedule and under-budget. It is anticipated that the ASD-1X well will take up to 60 days to drill and complete; if successful the well can rapidly be placed on production through existing infrastructure.

ASD-1X is the second well to be drilled in the 2021 campaign, which is entirely funded from operational cashflow. Subject to final approvals, the joint venture partnership has now agreed a third well for 2021, the AJ-8 development well, which was originally scheduled for 2020 and deferred due to the lower oil price environment. This well will target the Abu Roash and Bahariya reservoirs in an undrained area of the Al Jahraa Field and will be drilled by the EDC-50 rig after completion of ASD-1X

United’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Larkin commented:
“There is considerable exploration potential in the Abu Sennan licence, and it is great to be actively drilling wells to unlock that potential. We are delighted that the ASD-1X exploration well has been spudded and look forward to updating shareholders once the well has reached the target reservoirs.

“The improving oil price environment of recent months has significantly enhanced operational cashflows and improved the economics of additional development wells so it is also very pleasing to have confirmation of the drilling of the AJ-8 development well immediately after completion of ASD-1X.”

KeyFacts Energy: United Oil and Gas Egypt country profile   l   Kuwait Energy Egypt country profile