Repsol YPF announces the completion of well A2, confirming the
discovery performed by the well A1 in the exploration Block NC-186 of the Murzuq
Basin, some 800 km South of Tripoli (Libya). Block NC-186 has an area of 4,300
km2.
Well A2, the third drilled by Repsol YPF in Block NC-186, found
a significant oil column in the middle Ordovician sandstone of the Hawaz
formation. Flow rates up to 2,670 barrels of oil per day, 41� API; with a
64/64-inch choke on natural flow have been reported from the well production
tests.
Repsol YPF is the Operator for the exploration blocks NC-186,
NC-187 and NC-190 of the Murzuq Basin, on behalf of a group comprising National
Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya and other three European companies, OMV
(Austria), TotalFinaElf (France) and Saga Petroleum Mabruk (Norway) .
Exploration activities in these blocks started in May 1998,
following Libyan Government approval of the Exploration and Production Sharing
Agreement (EPSA) covering Blocks NC-186 and NC-187 . Block NC-190 was awarded in
August 2000.
Crude oil production from the Murzuq Basin started in December
1996 from the giant El-Sharara field, located in the nearby Block NC-115. These
field, operated by Repsol Oil Operations (ROO) on behalf of NOC and a
consortium, including OMV and TotalFinaElf, is producing over 150,000 barrels
per day of excellent quality sweet light oil (44� API).
Wells A1-NC186 and A2-NC186 are located only 20 km from the
El-Sahara field facilities, that have capacity to process and export additional
oil production.