Apache discovery boasts highest reservoir yields

Apache Corp. made a new discovery on its Ras El Hekma concession 18 mi northeast of the company's Khalda concession off Egypt. The Emerald-1X flowed at 4,285 bbl of condensate and 16.9 MMcf/d on a 1-in. choke with 1,311 lbs/sq in. of flowing wellhead pressure.

The discovery logged 218 ft of net pay in multiple Alem El Bueib reservoirs. There were 184 ft of net pay in the AEB 5A, 5B, and AEB 6 reservoirs with no observed water contact.

The Emerald-1X tested a 1,200-acre structure and perforated 34 net ft of pay in the AEB 6 sand in two intervals between 11,848 ft and 11,892 ft.

"Our improved understanding of the Tarek-Ras El Hekma fault trend offers great potential," said Rodney J. Eichler, Apache's regional vice president and general manager in Egypt. "We have just found AEB sands 180-200 ft up-dip of any previous penetrations, and we have flow rates from the AEB 6 that are the highest ever recorded from that Ras El Hekma reservoir."

At shallower depths between 10,010 ft and 11,644 ft, the Emerald-1X logged 88 ft of gas/condensate pay in the AEB 5B sand and 19 ft of oil pay in the AEB 3E sand. The company drilled the well to 12,440 ft TD. Apache is the operator with 100% contractor interest.

New 3-D seismic interpretation indicates the discovery has significant development and delineation potential, which Apache plans to test with a second well, the Emerald-2X.

The well is Apache's 11th discovery in Egypt and 16th discovery worldwide this year. It is expected to be on production by year-end with gas and condensate going to the Tarek field gas plant.

12/27/02