Middle East and North Africa-focused Circle Oil Plc (OTC: CIOMF) plugged and abandoned the Shisr-1 well in Block 49, onshore southern Oman, the company said in a March 4 statement. The decision was made due to drilling difficulties the company had not encountered to the same extent in previous wells in the area. No hydrocarbons were found. The primary target had been the Hasirah sands prognosed at a depth of 1,890 meters.

The bottomhole assembly (BHA) became stuck below the nine-and-five-eighths-inch casing shoe that was set at 819 meters. Multiple attempts were made to remove the BHA but were unsuccessful. Drilling information, confirmed by Circle Oil’s independent drilling advisor, suggests that the main problem zone is immediately below the casing shoe and further attempts to deepen or sidetrack this borehole are inadvisable.

The Ministry of Oil and Gas in Oman gave its approval to plug and abandon the well. As was stated previously, management viewed this well as a high-risk commitment well with a low probability of success.