The Al Amir SE 23 (AASE-23) development well in North West Gemsa in Egypt has encountered oil-bearing reservoir sections in the Kareem Rahmi and Shagar formations and will be completed as a producer in the Shagar, according to SDX Energy Inc.

The well was drilled to a depth of 3,018 m (9,900 ft) where both the Shagar and Rahmi oil reservoirs were encountered. Log analysis indicates 7 m (23 ft) of net Shagar oil pay and 9 m (28 ft) of net Rahmi oil pay, the release said. The well has been completed as an oil producer in the Shagar and has flowed on test light 42.2 degree API oil at a rate of 3,860 barrels of oil per day (bbl/d) with 2.55 million standard cubic feet of associated gas per day (MMscf/d).

The well will be placed in production in the coming days as soon as the completion rig has moved off location, the release said.

“Drilling costs for the AASE-23 were down by 30%, on a comparative basis with previous wells, making this well both a technical and also commercial success. The AASE-23 is the first of two development wells to be drilled in the field this year,” SDX Energy CEO Paul Welch said. “The drilling rig has now moved to the next location (AASE-24) and we anticipate drilling to commence in the next few days. The results of these two development wells combined with a five well work-over program will allow us to maintain production at these increased rates for the remainder of 2016.”

Field production is currently 7,535 bbl/d and 8.9 MMscf/d, he added.

The North West Gemsa concession is located onshore on the west side of the Gulf of Suez, about 300 km southeast of Cairo, the release said. SDX has a 10% working interest in the concession.