United Oil & Gas announces an update on the drilling of the ASV-1X exploration well in the Abu Sennan licence, onshore Egypt. United holds a 22% working interest in the Abu Sennan licence, which is operated by Kuwait Energy Egypt.

The well was drilled to a Total Depth of 3,496 metres encountering nine metres of net reservoir in the primary Abu Roash "C" (ARC) reservoir target and 111 metres of net reservoir in the secondary Kharita target. Indications of hydrocarbons were recorded on the mud log over the ARC reservoir target and oil was identified from the geochemical analysis of ditch-cuttings, however the initial petrophysical interpretation did not indicate the presence of net pay in either the ARC or Kharita reservoir intervals.

Given the evidence from the mud log, the oil seen in the ditch-cuttings, and the similarity to the petrophysical response observed across the ARC reservoir in the previously drilled ASZ-1X well, the Joint Venture partners have agreed to perform a well-test on the ARC reservoir in the ASV-1X well. For the purposes of comparison, the ASZ-1X well was drilled in 2018, and whilst initial petrophysical results suggested a lack of net pay in the ARC reservoir, the well flowed hydrocarbons on test, and was put onto production.

Further operations on the well and any potential application to EGPC for a development concession will be determined based on the results of the comprehensive testing programme currently being undertaken.

The ASV-1X well was drilled by the Sino Tharwa-1 rig. It is the second well of the 2022 drilling campaign, and the first exploration well in the programme. On completion of the initial well-testing on ASV-1X, the rig will move to the Al Jahraa Field to drill the Al Jahraa-14 development well.

Brian Larkin, Chief Executive Officer commented: 
"Given the indications of the presence of hydrocarbons in the well coupled with the similarities in the petrophysical analysis to an analogue well drilled in 2018 targeting the same reservoir, we fully support the Joint Venture's decision to carry out a testing programme on the well. The additional data provided by the well will augment our understanding of the potential in the licence whilst the high gas readings and oil recovered from cuttings in the ARC is encouraging for the prospectivity of this eastern area of the Abu Sennan licence, and will be incorporated into the future exploration drilling plans.

Following completion of the first phase of the well-testing programme, our active, fully funded 2022 drilling programme continues with the spudding of the development well, Al Jahraa-14 on the Al Jahraa Field a follow up to the commercial discovery at AJ-13 at the end of 2021."

KeyFacts Energy: United Oil and Gas Egypt country profile 

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