Oil Search has been in Yemen for about three years and had begun looking at Middle Eastern options a few years before taking up its Yemeni blocks.
PNG is still the focus but the Middle East provides welcome diversification, the company has said.
Oil Search said its criteria for investment included: proven petroleum systems, closeness to infrastructure, acceptable fiscal terms and near-term drilling opportunities.
It also believed the company had skills that it could apply in the Middle East and North Africa - the abilities to develop in-country expertise, and to work cooperatively with host governments and local communities in culturally sensitive and physically difficult environments.
Iraq
Oil Search reports that as at 6am Iraqi time on December 26, the Bina Bawi-1 well was at 2671m and drilling ahead in an 8.5-inch. Drilling progress for the week was 273m.
Bina Bawi-1 is in the Bina Bawi Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) located in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.
Oil Search has a 20% interest in the Bina Bawi EPSA operator, A & T Petroleum, and has the option to convert its 20% shareholding into a 10% direct interest in the Bina Bawi EPSA.
The primary objective of the Bina Bawi-1 well is the Triassic reservoir with secondary reservoir potential in the Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic sections.
The participants in the Bina Bawi-1 well are: A & T Petroleum 50% and operator Hawler Energy Limited 50%
Yemen
Oil Search reports that the Ghobata-1 well in Block 49 started drilling on December 27. At 6am Yemen time December 27, the well was at a depth of 49 metres and was drilling ahead in a 17 75-inch hole.
Ghobata-1 is 9.5km southeast of the Al Nokhailat-1 well and 3.5 kilometres east of the Balharak-1 well.
The primary objective of the well is the Qishn Clastics and fractured Basement, with secondary objectives in the Lam and Kohlan Sandstone. Planned total depth of the well is 2194 metres.
This is the second well in a two well program in the Block.
The participants in Block 49 are: Oil Search 31.75%, CCC 32% (operator), MOL 21.25% and The Yemen Company 15%.
Egypt
At 6am Egyptian time on December 27, Ghard-1 was at a depth of 2560m and drilling ahead in a 12.25-inch hole. Progress for the week was 538m.
Ghard-1 is in the East Ras Qattara concession, Western Desert, Egypt, 12km northeast of the recently drilled Shahd-1 discovery.
Ghard-1 is Oil Search’s second well in a two-well back-to-back drilling program in the East Ras Qattara block.
The objectives of the Ghard-1 well are reservoirs in the Cretaceous Abu Roash, Bahariya and Alam El Bueib Formations. The prognosed total depth is 3950m. Production storage facilities are located in adjacent concessions.
The participants in Ghard-1 are: Sipetrol International SA 50.5%, operator and Oil Search (Egypt) Limited 49.5%.
Meanwhile at 6am December 27, another Egyptian well, 100%-owned by Oil Search, was at 360m and running intermediate logs in an 8.5-inch hole as a result of gas shows.
But progress for the week on Kareem Nubia-1 was only 8m, as it was limited by attempts to control fluid losses during drilling.
Kareem Nubia-1 is in Area ‘A’, adjacent to the Gulf of Suez in the Eastern Desert, Egypt. It is the first of up to 15 exploration and development wells to be drilled in the Oil Search-operated concession.
The objectives of the Kareem Nubia-1 well are sandstone reservoirs in the Nubia Formation. The prognosed total depth is 850m. Oil Search said “substantial spare production capacity” in the existing Area ‘A’ facilities would enable quick development if the well was successful.
