Sonatrach has made a Silurian oil & gas discovery in its Sai Est 1 ST 1 (SAIE 1 ST 1) NFW. The well is located on the Zemlet El Arbi exploration licence in the Berkine Basin. It was spudded on 20 December 2016 and drilled to a TD of 4,700m, using the ENTP #194 rig. A mechanical sidetrack was drilled from 3,343m. The discovery lies ~7km SE of the 2015 Sai 1 (SAI 1) Silurian oil & gas discovery (TD 4,710m). It is the sixth exploration well to be drilled on the block in 2017. In October 2016, Sonatrach also completed the Sai Sud 1 (SAIS 1) NFW as a Silurian oil & gas discovery, ~6km to the west. It was drilled to a TD of 4,703m. The company was awarded Zemlet El Arbi, which lies to the north of the Hassi Berkine Complex, in October 2015. It has drilled 15 wells on the block since award, with seven discoveries made. Sonatrach operates the licence with 100% equity.<P />
Algeria, Zemlet El Arbi (Dev)