Dana Petroleum Plc completed oil and gas flow from two exploration wells in North Zeit Bay, Egypt, East Matr-1X and North Matr-1X.

East Matr-1X was drilled with the Sino Tharwa Tanmia 1 rig and reached a total depth of 5,800 ft (1,768 m). The upper interval of Rahmi sand in the Kareem formation tested oil and gas, with a maximum stabilized flow rate of 6,153 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) and 6.29 million cu ft of gas per day (MMcf/d) through a 96/64-in choke.

Zeitco has tied the well into the Lorcan production facility in North Zeit Bay and first oil from East Matr-1X was recently recorded. The well will be constrained to produce around 1,200 barrels of oil per day (b/d).

Following the success of East Matr-1X, Dana then drilled an adjacent fault block with the North Matr-1X exploration well, which reached a measured depth of 7,040 ft (2,146 m) in the Kareem formation.

The well encountered a 22 ft (6 m) sand in the Kareem formation, which tested oil and gas with a maximum stabilized rate of 3,630 b/d and 4.35 MMcf/d, constrained by surface testing facilities. The well has also been tied into the Lorcan production facility and is producing.

Dana's managing director in Egypt, Nick Dancer, said, “Dana plans to invest $169 million in Zeitco this year to continue our successful partnership with Egyptian General Petroleum Co.”

Dana Petroleum has 100% working interest in the North Zeit Bay concession.