Apex International Energy (Apex) announced testing the Fajr-8 development well, located in Egypt’s Western Desert in the South East Meleiha (SEM), at a daily rate of 2,440 barrels of oil and negligible water.

The Fajr-8 well encountered 98 feet of high-quality oil pay in sandstone of the Bahariya Formation. The well was connected to production facilities and opened for the first production on May 8, less than four days from rig release.

The new Fajr-8 well is the fifth producing well in the Fajr field, located in SEM, which is operated by Farah Petroleum Company (PetroFarah), the joint venture operating company which was established by Apex and the Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC) in April 2021.

Accordingly, Fajr field, along with Farah (three wells) and Mashreq (one well) fields in SEM, are expected to raise SEM oil production from the current 4,300 barrels per day (bbl/d) to exceed 6,000 bbl/d from nine total wells this week. All the wells produce from intervals less than 5,000 feet in depth.

“PetroFarah’s rapid development of the three new field discoveries made by Apex in 2021 is a testament to the strong relationship and sense of urgency we share with EGPC to increase Apex’s and Egypt’s oil production,” said Apex’s founder and Chairman, Roger Plank.

“With a second rig being utilized at SEM later this month, and numerous drilling locations identified, we look forward to continued development success,” Apex’s President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Maher said. “We also have a strong inventory of other exploration prospects and leads across SEM and the neighboring East Siwa block, awarded in the 2021 EGPC Bid Round to Apex (50%) and our partner, Eni subsidiary IEOC (50%).”

Apex holds a 100% working interest in the SEM exploration concession, encompassing 1,713 square kilometers. The company acquired the concession interest through the 2016 exploration bid round of EGPC and signed the concession agreement in August 2017.