The company said evaluation of test results indicated that the quality of crude in the lower Haima and Al Khlata sandstones severely inhibited oil flow, and only 17 barrels of viscous oil were recovered during the Al Khlata test.
The test results would be further evaluated to ascertain the commercial potential of the Ghadaq Prospect, said Oilex, which is acting as operator in a joint venture with several Indian companies.
While Ghadaq-1 was not commercial, it was significant in confirming the presence of migrated oil further into Block 56 than had been previously established, according to Oilex.
Once Ghadaq-1 is abandoned, the company will move to a wildcat exploration of the Alyanbou-1 exploration well.
Alyanbou-1 has an estimated resource potential of 10-375 million barrels of oil in place.
As operator, Oman Oilex holds 25% of Block 56, while partners Videocon Industries and GAIL each have 25%, and Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum each have a 12.5% stake
Meanwhile, in Gujarat, India, increased gas readings in the Cambay-23Z well indicate the primary Eocene EP IV reservoir objective is hydrocarbon-bearing, according to Oilex.
The company is continuing with coring operations in this interval at a depth below 1975m.
Following the coring operations, Oilex would run wireline logging and production testing.
As operator, Oilex holds 30% of the Cambay production sharing contract, Oilex NL Holdings India has 15%, and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation has 55%.
