Qarun Petroleum Company, a joint-venture between the EGPC and the American operator Apache Corporation, is in the process of drilling a new crude-producing exploratory well in its Western Desert concession area. The new ‘HEBA-10x’ well has reached a vertical depth of 7150 feet using the EDC-63 rig, with investments averaging $1million.

Qarun has concluded the drilling of another crude oil-producing developmental well, labeled HEBA-441, in the company’s fields in the Western Desert concession.

Investments in the well, which was drilled to a depth of 6,800 feet using an EDC-63 rig, reached $800,385. Production from the well has not been added to the company’s overall production.

Drilling new well comes as the company strives to realize its 2011/2012 development plan, which targets reaching 17 million oil barrels from its various concession areas (Heba, AlFayoum and West Nile.)