Apache's double delight in Egypt

US independent Apache Corporation has struck it lucky once again in Egypt, with two new drilling successes to add to its previous discoveries in the north African state.

The Tayim South 1x well in Faghur Basin produced more good results for the American player, with a production test rate of 8196 barrels a day.

Tom Voytovich, vice president for Apache operations in Egypt, said the Tayim South discovery was just the latest of a string of successes for the company along a 25-mile trend within its concession boundaries.

"We have drilled 13 exploratory tests along this trend during 2011, eleven of which were discoveries”, Voytovich said in a statement.

He added that Apache was “planning five additional tests before year-end".

The company also reported success at its AG90 development well in the Abu Gharadig Field, with a flow of 7614 barrels of oil and 1.5 million cubic feet of natural gas during a completion test.

The discovery is part of “an aggressive campaign to develop oil reserves” in that part of Egypt, Voytovich said.

"We believe there is a good opportunity to leverage existing processing and transportation infrastructure to maximize efficiency at the Abu Gharadig Field complex."

The latest well encountered 189 feet of pay in six separate zones. It was completed with 18 feet of perforations from a total 84 net feet of oil pay in the Lower Bahariya and is currently producing 5200 barrels of oil and five million cubic feet of gas per day.

Apache said it has drilled 11 successful wells in the Abu Gharadig Field since acquiring the properties last year, with oil production rising 20% to 24,000 barrels per day, and gas production increasing 70% to 60 million cubic feet per day.

The company said existing facilities had allowed wells to be brought on production rapidly, although pipeline and mechanical issues had restricted condensate production.