Eni on Friday announced that it has successfully spud a new well in the Nooros East exploration prospect, and the Zohr 2X well.

The company spud the Nidoco North 1X well, in the exploration prospect of Nooros East, situated in the Abu Madi West license, in the Nile Delta, Egypt. The well encountered over 43 meters of net gas and condensates bearing sandstone layers of Messinian age with excellent petrophysical properties. The startup of operation is expected by the end of March 2016 and will allow the Nooros area, to attain an output of about 45,000 boepd and by the middle of 2016, with further new development wells, the production capacity will increase to more than 60,000 boepd.

Eni, via its subsidiary IEOC, has a 75% stake in the concession of Abu Madi West, alongside BP with 25% stake.

In line with the field development, Eni plans to continue exploration activities in the license area, where major further potential has been pointed out and will be tested with the drilling of additional two exploration wells.

Eni also announced the completion of the drilling of the Zohr 2X well, the first appraisal well of the Zohr find. The well, spud in the Shorouk block (where Eni, through its subsidiary, holds a 100% interest), is situated 1.5 km southeast from Zohr 1X in a water depth of 4800 ft.

The well spud up to 13684 ft and came across 1614 ft of constant hydrocarbon column in a carbonate sequence with outstanding reservoir characteristics. Eni is currently organizing all the activities for the implementation of the well production test, Energy-pedia reports.

Anita Fatunji