TAG Oil, the Canadian-based oil and natural gas company, announced its first oil output in Egypt’s Badr Oil Field (BED-1), located in the Western Desert.

The company announced the successful re-entry of the vertical well, BED 1-7.  The company perforated its Abu Roash “F” formation and performed a Diagnostic Fracture Injectivity Test.

“This activity is the first step to establish oil production from the ARF Formation, an oil-rich source rock that covers a significant portion of the 107km² BED-1 concession,” TAG Oil CEO Toby Pierce commented.

“Production results confirm the economic feasibility of this important resource play in the Western Desert of Egypt,” Pierce noted.

It is expected that the well will start producing within a few days and the company hopes to release 30-day rates from the well by mid-June.

“Data collected from the well along with geomechanical and 3D seismic review has enhanced our horizontal well design,” the company said in the press statement. “Plans are underway to secure a drilling rig to drill the first horizontal well designed with a multi-stage fracture stimulation.”

According to the company, more than 500 net barrels of oil were produced during a brief flowback.