UK ENERGY minnow Petroceltic has notched up what it says is a significant discovery.
It has clocked up its third appraisal well – AT-6 – on the Ain Tsila gas prospect in south-eastern Algeria’s Isarene permit area (blocks 228 and 229a) in the Illizi Basin.
Petroceltic, partnered by state operator Sonatrach, said the AT-6 well had been drilled to a total depth of 2,085m (6,841ft), and had successfully logged gas in the main Ordovician reservoir. It has been suspended in preparation for testing with a rigless testing unit, following completion of the testing programme underway at well AT-5.
Depending on the results of initial testing, the campaign is likely to include hydraulic fracturing of some of the reservoir zones to enhance gas flow rates.
Following suspension of AT-6, the Dalma rig has been moved to drill a further vertical appraisal well in the far south-west of the field AT-7.
A second rig, the KCA Deutag T-211 unit, has mobilised to the Isarene permit, and is drilling well AT-8 at a site in the north of the field.
Petroceltic said that, with the addition of a second rig, the six well delineation programme is expected to be complete by the end of 2011, in time for the preparation of the final discovery report for submission to the Algerian authorities.