Apache records strong natural gas flows from two Egyptian wells

Ray Tyson

Houston-based Apache said two new wells in the company’s Qasr field on Egypt’s Khalda Concession have produced strong results.

The Qasr-6 appraisal well test-flowed 28.8 million cubic feet of natural gas and 1,037 barrels of condensate per day from two zones in the Jurassic-age Lower Safa formation, Apache said Sept. 7.

The company said its Qasr-9 development well flowed at 4,826 barrels of oil and 750,000 cubic feet of gas per day, registering the strongest test to date from Cretaceous-age Alam El Bueib sands at Qasr.

The Qasr-6 well encountered a 250-foot gross sand column with 234 feet of net pay, the company said, adding that the well extends to the west the known limits of the reservoir and has a similar gas/water contact seen in previous Qasr wells. Qasr-6 is about 1.8 miles northwest of the Qasr-5 well and 4.3 miles west of the Qasr-1X discovery.

“Qasr-6 further confirms our modeling of the field as the largest onshore gas discovery in Apache’s 50-year history,” said Steve Farris, Apache’s chief executive officer.

Qasr-9, about 3.6 miles southeast of Qasr-6, logged 61 feet of net pay in the AEB 3E sand, with excellent sandstone quality and pressures, the company said.

The company now estimates Qasr’s ultimate recoverable gas reserves to be in excess of 2 trillion cubic feet, with condensate recoveries in the range of 40 million to 50 million barrels. Qasr-9 is expected to be on production this month. Qasr-6 will come on stream as soon as additional infrastructure is added to accommodate a recent gas sales agreement, Apache said.

Apache operates the Khalda Concession with a 100 percent contractor interest.