In its first quarter 2018 report released on 7 May 2019, Tethys Oil AB (concession partners of CC Energy Development S.A.L. (Oman) Ltd (CCED) and Mitsui E&P Middle East (MEPME) B.V) announced that an oil discovery had been made at the Masarrah 1 new field wildcat in Block 03 (Afar). The well will now undergo a long-term production test. It was spudded in the fourth quarter of 2018 based on the interpretation of recently acquired seismic data to explore deeper objectives. Masarrah 1 is located approximately 11 km east of the Farha South infrastructure. Tethys Oil previously commented that it had identified more than ten leads based on interpretation of old 2D seismic data). CCED operates the onshore 5,915 sq km Block 03 (Afar) concession with a 50% share, the remaining interests are held by Tethys Oil (30%) and MEPME (20%).
Masarrah 1 near-field exploration well (CCED 50% op, Tethys Oil 30%, MEPME 20%) in Afar block 3, east of Farha South infrastructure, oil discovery, targeted a structure analogous to the Ulfa and Samah discoveries around 10 km NE of Ulfa 1. It had good oil shows in the targeted Precambrian Khufai Fm and tested light oil with good flow rates. 