Libya reports new oil and gas discoveries

Libya’s National Oil Company (NOC) has reported three new discoveries

Firstly, the NOC and Eni North Africa, the operator of Contract 4/16, have made a new discovery in offshore western LIbya, around 95 km from the coast, following successful drilling of the exploration well J1-4/16.

Drilling was completed to a final depth of 10,458 feet. Tests of the Metlawi reservoir produced flow rates across two tests: 14 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) through a 32/64-inch choke in the first test, and 24 MMcf/d through a 62/64-inch choke in the second.

This well is the final one in fulfilling nine contractual obligations for offshore Contract Block D, as stipulated in the agreement signed in June 2008.

The NOC and Repsol Libya Branch (REMSA) have reported a new oil discovery following the drilling of the exploratory well “J1-4/130” in Contract Area “131/130” in the Murzuq Basin, around 800 km south of Tripoli. The well reached a final depth of 4,325 feet and is producing an average of 763 barrels of oil per day from the Mummiyat Formation.

This well is the fifth of the company’s eight contractual commitments under the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) signed between the NOC and REMSA in 2008.

The NOC and Sonatrach Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation Libya Branch (SIPEX), the operator of Contract Area 95/96 in Libya’s Ghadames Basin, have made a new oil and gas discovery following the drilling of the A1-69/02 exploration well, located 70 km from the Wafa field.

The well was completed to a final depth of 8,440 feet and is delivering production rates of 13 million cubic feet of gas and 327 barrels of condensate per day from the Awynat Wanin and Awyn Kaza formations.

This is the sixth well drilled by Sonatrach out of eight planned under the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) signed in May 2008 between NOC and Sonatrach.

As reported in the Libya Herald, the chairman of the NOC, Masoud Suleiman, affirmed that the new discoveries made in the Murzuq and Ghadames basins, as well as the offshore area, reflect the significant potential of Libya’s oil and gas sector and support the NOC’s strategic directions in developing its hydrocarbon resources. He stressed the NOC’s commitment to continuing exploration activity to increase reserves and production.

The discoveries follow two earlier discoveries by Eni reported in mid-March, together estimated at around one trillion cubic feet, approximately 85 km off the coast, and 16 km south of the Bahr Essalam gas field, Libya’s largest offshore field. These discoveries are projected to add about 130 million cubic feet of gas per day, boosting the NOC’s capacity to meet both domestic and international market demands and helping to address any gas supply shortages.

“This discovery highlights the promising potential of Libya’s offshore basins and continues the NOC’s efforts to boost production rates and develop the country’s natural resources,” the NOC commented.