Sonatrach Announces Two New Discoveries In Berkine And Illizi Basins
Algeria’s state-owned Sonatrach has announced new oil and gas discoveries in the Berkine and Illizi Basins. On 10 May it reported a significant oil and gas discovery in Block 405a in the Berkine Basinat the West El Merk Nord (WEMN-1) well, which was drilled to a depth of 4,740ms. Sonatrach said the test flow rate was 440,000 cu ms/day of gas, 800 b/d of oil and 500 b/d of condensate. This is the 10th discovery reported by Sonatrach this year and the fifth made outside a partnership, the others being: GLSW-1 in the Oued Mya Basin, HGAS-1 in the Amguid Messaoud Basin, AHMN-1 and AHM-1 in the Berkine Basin (MEES, 24 April).
On 9 May Sonatrach announced a gas discovery in the Erg Issaouane 226-229b Blocks in the Illizi Basin. Sonatrach said the Isarene Sud (ISRS-1) well encountered gas in the Devonian Superieur reservoir at an interval of 871-877ms that flowed at a rate of 100,000 cu ms/day on a 1.5in choke at 923 psi. The discovery was made in partnership with Medex Petroleum North Africa of Tunisia. This is the fifth discovery Sonatrach has made foreign partners since the start of the year: TEN-1 well in the Illizi Basin, SALI-1 well in the Reggane Basin, LES-3 well in the Berkine Basin, and MJB-3 in the Timimoun Basin(MEES, 8 May, 24 April, 3 April).
