Sound Spuds 1st Moroccan Well
UK-listed explorer Sound Energy said April 21 it has begun drilling the first well at Tendrara, onshore eastern Morocco.
With the rig-up completed on April 15, the well was spud on April 20 and drilling is expected to reach a total measured depth of 2,640 metres. Final results of the well will be announced after the end of drilling and testing operations, some 80 days after the spud day.
Sound Energy CEO James Parsons said: “I am pleased to report that drilling of our first well in Morocco has now commenced. This well is a significant milestone for our Company and we expect it to both unlock eastern Morocco's regional gas play and significantly broaden Sound Energy's resource base." The company has 11 licences in Morocco (8 at Tendrara, 3 at Sidi Moktar) and 18 in Italy.
US contractor Schlumberger is funding 80% of exploration drilling costs at Tendrara, while Sound meets 20% of costs but retains a 27.5% interest in the 14,500 km2 licence - which is located 120km from the GME pipeline that connects Algeria and Morocco to the Spanish and Portuguese gas grids.
Meanwhile Tunisian state producer ETAP has submitted an application for a one-year extension of the Ksar Hadada exploration permit in southeast Tunisia for AIM-listed Independent Resources (IR), the UK firm said on April 21. If successful, the extension will run until August 7 2017. IR currently has an 86.345% interest in the 2,252 km2 permit. The proposed minimum work obligation will comprise the acquisition, processing and interpretation of up to 300 km2 of 3D seismic, and the drilling of two new exploratory wells replacing the obligation to drill one new exploratory well and re-enter a well drilled previously on the Permit. IR said it is keen to target the greater exploration potential identified in the Acacus oil play for the extra well. IR also has exploration acreage in Egypt.
Mark Smedley