State-owned Algerian energy firm Sonatrach, along with its Russian partner Gazprom, has made a new oil and gas find in Block 236b of El Assel area in Algeria’s Berkine Basin
The RSHN-1 exploration well was drilled to a final depth of 4,120 metres. The flow rate of oil and gas were recorded at 8.5 cu/m per hour and 7.930 cu/m per hour respectively, Sonatrach said in a statement.
The new discovery is the third in number of joint discoveries made by Sonatrach and Gazprom in El Assel area. The other two discoveries in the same area were RSH-2 and ZERN-1 exploration wells, the statement added.
Sonatrach holds a 51 per cent stake in the RSHN-1 exploration well while the remaining 49 per cent is owned by Gazprom.
In 2008, Gazprom opened a representative office in Algeria to develop its activities in Africa in partnership with Sonatrach. The company in November 2010 drilled RSH-2 exploration well, which was Gazprom’s first discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in North Africa.
