Kalegran Limited has spudded the Gulak-1 exploration well at the Akri-Bijeel block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Gulak-1 will be drilled to a planned total depth of 3,658 metres in the Triassic Kurra Chine formation and has become the fourth exploration well to be drilled on the Akri-Bijeel block. It has also become the first exploration well to target the Gulak anticline at the eastern end of the block.
The Akri-Bijeel block is operated by MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas subsidiary Kalegran, who holds an 80 per cent working interest in the block, with Gulf Keystone Petroleum holding a working interest of 20 per cent.
Gulf Keystone chief operating officer John Gerstenlauer said, “Gulak-1 is part of the operator’s extensive exploration and appraisal program on the massive Akri-Bijeel block and the 14th well to be drilled across Gulf Keystone’s four blocks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
“In addition to three wells currently drilling on the Akri-Bijeel block (Bijell-3, Bakrman-1 and Gulak-1), the programme also includes the drilling of three additional appraisal wells (Bijell-2, Qalati-1 and Qandagul-1).”
Operator Kalegran has announced a P50 resource estimate for the Bijell discovery of 2.4 billion barrels of oil-in-place. The site is home to an ongoing 2012/13 exploration and appraisal programme, which has targeted existing and identified hydrocarbon prospects in the Akri-Bijeel block.
