In late September 2017, the SociÃ©tÃ© de DÃ©velopement et dâExploitation du Permis du Sud (Sodeps) reached the TD of 4,313 m in the Makhrouga Sud Est 1 exploratory well in the Makhrouga production concession, Ghadames Basin, southern Tunisia. On 12 October 2017 the well was suspended. Oil and gas were recovered from the Ordovician. A test is planned at a later stage.  On 16 August 2017, Sodeps spudded Makhrouga Sud Est 1. In early September, the well was drilling ahead below 1,260 m. Makhrouga Sud Est 1 has objectives in the Trias, the Silurian Acacus Formation and in the Ordovician.    The well is part of the near-field exploration strategy implemented by Sodeps on its two other permits, Larich and Debbech, last year.    The Makhrouga field was discovered in 1980 and started oil production in 1983. The last development well was drilled there in 2004. The last exploration field work on the block was completed in 2014 when Sodeps completed a 603 sq km 3D survey.    The Makhrouga, Larich and Debbech concessions (also known as MLD concession) are operated by Sodeps, a company held by Eni 50% and Etap 50%.    The 576 sq km permit has been awarded to SODEPS on January 1982 and is running until December 2031. The permit is located in the Dahar Uplift of the Ghadames Basin.     Background Information    The Makhrouga field is producing from the Middle Triassic Kirchaou continental sandstones. In addition, the permit area is not far from the oil and gas pipelines and roads which transport product from the El Borma field to the export points on the Gulf of Gabes. Sedimentological and sequential surveys of the field have identified six main sequences representing complex fluvial cycles. The stratigraphic succession in the Kirchaou Formation can be subdivided into main sedimentary sequences in most of the wells of the Saharan Platform. It is the number and thickness of these sequences which differ from one sector to another. However, the vertical trend (aggradation cycle) in Makhrouga Est and El Borma fields are very similar.
Makhrouga Sud Est 1 (Sodeps 100%) in Makhrouga concession, o&g were recovered from the Ordovician. A test is planned at a later stage.