PETROCELTIC HAS ISSUED an operational update on its Isarene permit in the Illizi Basin in South Eastern Algeria. As previously announced, a gas column in excess of 80 meters
Local high in-situ stress caused by localised tectonic history is a known issue in other Illizi basin fields in Algeria and the Company considers that it is likely to be of limited local extent, rather than regionally extensive. The AT-3 well has now been suspended with a view to completing the fracture stimulation and testing as part of a future Ain Tsila appraisal campaign when wellhead equipment with a higher pressure rating can be deployed. This is planned to be later in 2010, subject to Government and partner approval.
Data from the three wells drilled in the Ain Tsila discovery have demonstrated the presence of an extensive and probably continuous gas accumulation capable of flowing at rates exceeding 30mmscf/d following fracture stimulation. A Discovery declaration for the Ain Tsila field has been filed with Sonatrach, in accordance with the Production Sharing Contract Drilling is currently underway on the INW-2 well in the north west of the block, on the Issaouane NW prospect.
The rig has logged two gas bearing intervals in the primary Devonian F2 objective, and is now drilling in the secondary Ordovician reservoir objective. The Devonian F2 gas intervals will be tested after completion of drilling. Brian O'Cathain, Chief Executive of Petroceltic, commented, "We are pleased that the 3rd well on the Ain Tsila Ridge Discovery in this drilling campaign has demonstrated pressure continuity with the earlier two wells drilled, and the presence of a single large gas accumulation in the field.
Additionally, the logging results from INW-2 look positive, and we are hopeful that this well will prove up another commercial gas flow rate in the block. We are now working to interpret and integrate the large volume of data from these discoveries, with a view to making an application to the Algerian authorities for an appraisal period extension to the production sharing contract in the near future. We hope to be carrying out further appraisal drilling on the Ain Tsila field later this year, subject to partner and Government approval."