Apache Corporation reported results from two new wells in Egypt’s Western Desert that signal continued drilling success in the Faghur Basin and on concessions acquired in 2010.

• A production test of the Cretaceous Alam El Buieb (AEB) sand in the Tayim South 1-X well in the Faghur Basin flowed at a rate of 8,196 barrels of oil per day.
• The Lower Bahariya formation in the AG-90 development well in the Abu Gharadig Field, which was acquired in 2010, flowed 7,614 barrels of oil and 1.5 million cubic feet (MMcf) of natural gas per day during a completion test.

The Tayim South 1-X well is the latest in a series of discoveries in the Faghur Basin based on Apache’s interpretation of recently acquired 3-D seismic surveys across several of its concession areas, including the West Kalabsha Concession, where Apache owns a 100% contractor interest.

“The Tayim South discovery is located along a prominent east-west fault trend that stretches nearly 25 miles, all within Apache-operated concession boundaries, and includes productive intervals in the AEB, Safa and Paleozoic formations,” said Tom Voytovich, vice president of Apache’s Egypt Region. “We have drilled 13 exploratory tests along this trend during 2011, 11 of which were discoveries.  We are planning five additional tests before year-end.”

Tayim South 1-X is the highest-oil-rate completion Apache has tested since it began operating in the Western Desert in 1996.

“The AG-90 well was drilled as part of an aggressive campaign to develop oil reserves in the Abu Roash and Bahariya formations in the Abu Gharadig field,” said Voytovich.

The latest well encountered 189 feet of pay in six separate zones. It was completed with 18 feet of perforations from a total 84 net feet of oil pay in the Lower Bahariya and is currently producing 5,200 barrels of oil and 5 MMcf of gas per day.

Apache has drilled 11 successful wells in the Abu Gharadig Field since acquiring the properties, with oil production rising 20 percent to 24,000 barrels per day, and gas production increasing 70 percent to 60 MMcf per day. Existing facilities allow wells to be brought on production rapidly, although pipeline and mechanical issues have restricted condensate production.

“We believe there is a good opportunity to leverage existing processing and transportation infrastructure to maximize efficiency at the Abu Gharadig Field complex,” Voytovich said. “These new wells and others across Apache’s concession holdings will help meet Egypt’s current demand for energy and add value for Apache and our Egyptian partners.”