Apache Strikes Multiple Pay in Egypt's Faghur Basin

- Apache Strikes Multiple Pay in Egypt's Faghur Basin

Thursday, June 16, 2011
Apache Corp.

Apache reported five new oil discoveries in its Faghur Basin play in the far southwest of Egypt's Western Desert oil and gas province.

Apache also said that the AG-96 development well in the Abu Gharadig Concession tested 3,347 barrels of oil and 1 million cubic feet (MMcf) of natural gas per day from the Lower Bahariya formation. The well – drilled on acreage acquired from BP in late 2010 – is expected to lead to several additional wells before year end.

The Faghur Basin discoveries included:

• West Kalabsha-I-4 logged 79 feet of net pay in the Jurassic Safa sands. In a test, the well flowed 7,150 barrels of oil per day and 11.4 million cubic feet (MMcf) of gas per day.
• Faghur North-1X logged 25 feet of net pay in the Safa and Paleozoic Desouqy sands. Combined tests had a rate of 1,444 barrels of oil and 3.9 MMcf of gas per day.
• Faghur South-1X logged 38 feet of net pay in Safa and Cretaceous AEB-6 sands. The Safa tested 2,768 barrels of oil and 4 MMcf of gas per day.
• Huni-1X logged 27 feet of net pay in the AEB-3 sands. The well tested 970 barrels per day from the AEB-3E sand.
• Neith North-1X logged 20 feet of net pay in the AEB-3 sands and 57 feet of net pay in the Safa sands. A Safa well test is planned this month.

"The Faghur Basin continues to be a successful focus area for Apache, with AEB, Safa, and now Paleozoic reservoirs that have proven to be prolific oil and gas producers. These recent discoveries support the multi-pay potential of this oil-prone area of the Western Desert," said Tom Voytovich, vice president of Apache's Egypt Region. "The Huni and Neith North discoveries continue Apache's recent exploration success in the eastern area of the Faghur Basin.

"These discoveries and production from the Tayim development lease approved during the revolution period illustrate the fact that Egypt's energy sector is continuing to move forward," Voytovich said. "Our recent drilling successes provide clear evidence of the exploration potential on Apache acreage in Egypt and the benefits of working in stacked-pay areas."

Apache recently drilled the first discovery on its westernmost exploration concession. The Siwa-D-1X drilled in the Siwa Concession pushed Jurassic and Cretaceous plays farther south and westward and will lead to follow-up exploration prospects. Apache expects to commence production from the well upon approval of a development plan later in 2011.

The Tayim West-1X discovery in the West Kalabsha Concession represents the first Paleozoic success found in a reservoir separate from the younger proven Jurassic and Cretaceous sands and opens up the area to further deep tests in upcoming wells. The discovery is currently on production.

Thus far in 2011, Apache has drilled eight new discoveries in 10 attempts in the Faghur Basin, and drilling is under way on three additional wells –Mandulis-1X, Neilos-1X and Faghur North-2X. Eight additional exploration wells are planned for the area this year.

Apache continues to evaluate 3-D seismic surveys to identify additional exploration opportunities, including a recently completed 400-square-mile (1,040 square kilometers) survey across the Apache-operated Sallum Concession on the west side of the basin, and a 656-square-mile (1,698 square kilometers) survey covering the eastern part of the basin underlying the Khalda Offset, South Umbarka and Shushan concessions.

Apache's current gross operated production in Egypt totals approximately 215,000 barrels of oil and 900 MMcf of gas per day, including 40,000 barrels of oil per day from the Faghur Basin.

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Mainland Locates Multiple Pay Zones at Burkley-Phillips Well

Mainland Locates Multiple Pay Zones at Burkley-Phillips Well

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Mainland Resources Inc.

Mainland reported that further review and analysis of the Core results and Log data for the Burkley-Phillips #1 well indicates that the well hosts multiple potential pay zones including the Bossier Shale, Knowles Lime, Cotton Valley and Haynesville shale intercepts, and in addition has the potential for oil within the Tuscaloosa sandstones.

Mike Newport, President of Mainland Resources stated, "This new data is vitally important to Mainland as we design the production plan at Buena Vista. For instance, this new data revealing what we know as the Deep Bossier Shale is very important as it demonstrates the Burkley-Phillips has a strong potential to be an economically viable project for us."

"Deep Bossier Shales generally have high production rates, so that we can expect greater longevity in the wells that have strong potential for production from other zones, such as the Knowles and Cotton Valley," Newport added.

The analysis of the data has indicated that the primary pay zone is a Deep Bossier Shale, which is within a greater than 2000 foot Bossier Formation interval that was encountered at approximately 19,960 feet. Special Core analysis performed on core cut within the Bossier in the well, suggests that the rock properties of the shales are similar to high productivity Bossier wells in Northwest Louisiana and East Texas. These observations, combined with natural fracturing and very high pressures in excess of 20,000 psi, suggest that the well could have very strong production rates in the Bossier Zone.

The Bossier Section consists of interbedded sandstones, siltstones and shales within a naturally fractured, high-pressure environment. Petrophysical analysis suggests that some of the sandstones have very good conventional porosity. Typical, in these types of formations, production rates are high.

Good porosity is also observed within approximately 70 feet of the overlying Knowles Lime in the Burkley-Phillips #1 well. Petrophysical analysis, as well as exceptional mud gas shows observed while drilling this unit, indicate the potential for excellent gas production within this interval.

Mainland and its working interest partners control in excess of 17,800 net acres or 28 sections on the Buena Vista prospect area where the Burkley-Phillips #1 well was drilled to 22,000 feet, cored and logged. Upon successful completion of its proposed merger with American Exploration, Mainland would own 92% of the 28 sections in the Buena Vista prospect. As recently announced, core analysis has determined that gas in place in the Buena Vista prospect could be up to 500 BCF/section based on the cored interval.

Aztec Encounters Formations at Tx. Well

Aztec Encounters Formations at Tx. Well

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Aztec O&G Inc.

Aztec announced the Welder A-37 was drilled to a total depth of 6,208 feet and encountered multiple formations.

"Utilizing sidewall cores to further evaluate the well's electric log, there appear to be four to five zones of commercial interest in the probable to possible categories," stated Waylan Johnson, President of Aztec Oil & Gas, Inc. Furthermore, he stated, "The A-37 is our second successful well in the area, and we are working on several more ideas in San Patricio County. This county is typical of the type of area in Texas where we are afforded the opportunity to find sizeable reserves shallower than 6,500 feet."

Several Texas Independent Producers have joined Aztec as Partners in the San Patricio County area drilling as Aztec continues its dedication to drilling low-risk, shallow oil wells in Texas.