Egypt Seismic Can Get Exciting — In Many Ways
Three-D Seismic Technology
Egypt Seismic Can Get Exciting — In Many Ways
Three-D seismic technology has been extremely beneficial
to Apache's exploration program in Egypt.
Acquisition is simple in the country's Western Desert,
which is hard-pan, flat and relatively featureless. The biggest
impediment to seismic acquisition in the Khalda region is old land
mines and unexploded artillery shells remaining in the World War
II El Alamein battlefield.
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Egypt Seismic Can Get Exciting — In Many Ways
Three-D seismic technology has been extremely beneficial
to Apache's exploration program in Egypt.
Acquisition is simple in the country's Western Desert,
which is hard-pan, flat and relatively featureless. The biggest
impediment to seismic acquisition in the Khalda region is old land
mines and unexploded artillery shells remaining in the World War
II El Alamein battlefield.
A recent example of 3-D seismic translating to a
profitable oil discovery was on the East Bahariya concession just
west of Qarun. Apache bought the acreage from Repsol in the late
1990s and immediately drilled a well that produced 1,400 barrels
of oil per day. Last year the firm acquired 3-D seismic data across
the concession and earlier this year drilled its second commercial
discovery. The Southeast Karama 1X well tested at a rate of 1,140
barrels per day from the Cretaceous-age Abu Roash G Formation.
Six additional prospects have been developed in the
area based on the 3-D seismic.
"We have now identified three fields — and this
is nice, shallow oil at 7,000 feet or less," said Rodney Eichler,
Apache's regional vice president for Egypt. "In one year we will
take that concession from virtually no production to 3,000 barrels
of oil a day.
"That's an example of what you can do with a good
exploration model and a focus on a specific region," he continued.
"We know what to look for, what makes a good prospect and what reduces
the risks."