PPL Asia E&P B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pakistan Petroleum Ltd, spudded the Madain 1 exploration well in Block 8 in Diyala and Wasit provinces on 14 April 2019. Drilling operations were completed in late November 2019 after reaching a TD of 5,050 m. No result has been reported however the well is understood to have experienced a number of drilling difficulties including high temperature and pressure, formation loss and high friction torque. The well was targeting multiple reservoir objectives and had a PTD of approximately 5,000 m. On 24 August 2016, Iraqi Oil Exploration Company (IOEC) Seismic Crew 3 completed a 3D seismic survey over the block on behalf of PPL. The survey, which covered an area of 318 sq km, had commenced on 18 May 2016. The acquisition programme was conducted over Lead âMâ which was identified through interpretation of vintage seismic data. Block 8 contains a number of leads predominantly comprising anticlinal structures with Cretaceous Zubair and Khasib formation reservoir targets. Additional reservoir targets have been identified in the Miocene Jeribe and Lower Fars formations.   PPL was awarded an exploration, development and production service contract (EDPSC) as sole contender for the block on 31 May 2012. The contract was finalised on 5 November 2012. An initial gas exploration contract for the block was signed on 15 July 2012 and Iraqi cabinet approval was received on 25 September 2012. The block is in part contiguous to the Iranian border and was delineated as a gas block as part of Iraqâs fourth licensing round. The bid for Block 8 was awarded on the basis of a remuneration fee (RF) of USD 5.38 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe). It is located to the west of the Badrah oil field which is currently operated by a Gazprom led consortium that includes Kogas, Petronas and TPAO on the basis of a USD 5.5/boe RF. PPL was originally to be partnered in the bid by Chinaâs ZhenHua Oil Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the state-owned China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), but ZhenHua withdrew prior to the submission of bids. It is also understood that the EDPSC carries a minimum financial commitment in the order of USD 200 million.
Iraq (Dibdibah Sub-basin (Central Arabian Province)) Zubair