The well is a redrill of Arakubi -1, which started drilling in mid 2006 but was suspended due to rig problems.

Arakubi -1A is located in PDL 2 about 5km east of the Kutubu oil field.

Participants in Arakubi -1A are Oil Search 60%, ExxonMobil 14.5%, AGL 11.9%, Merlin Petroleum 6.8% and Petroleum Resources (Kutubu) 6.8%.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, Oil Search reported it had suspended the Rana-1 exploration well as a future producer after flowing oil to surface during a test of the three combined Bahariya pay intervals.

However, mechanical issues with the casing forced further testing and stimulation to be deferred until a workover rig can be brought in to repair casing and ensure wellbore integrity before re-testing. The well will then be completed as a producer.

The drill rig is being mobilised to Raheek-1, the fourth well in the East Ras Qattara exploration program.

Raheek-1 will test a horst block and target the Bahariya and Kharita formations that were found to be oil-bearing in Rana-1.

The participants in Rana-1 are: Sipetrol International 50.5% (operator) and Oil Search 49.5%.

Oil Search also failed to find any hydrocarbon shows while drilling through the primary Qishn clastics target at its Reeb-1 wildcat exploration well in Yemen.

However, strong gas shows were observed while drilling through the top of the secondary Nayfa objective.

These shows will be evaluated further during the logging program.

Participants in Block 35 are Oil Search 32.5% (operator), Virgin Resources 37.5%, Arc Energy 15%, MND 10% and the Yemen Company 5%.