RWE Dea completes three successful appraisal wells in its Egyptian Sidi Salem South East Fields

RWE Dea has completed three appraisal wells in the Egyptian Sidi Salem South East-1 and Sidi Salem South East-2 Gas Fields from March to May 2014 with the aim of de-risking reserves and reducing uncertainties of the Late Miocene Abu Madi reservoir prior to production. The two Sidi Salem South East Fields lie approximately 20 km south-west from the Disouq Central Treatment Plant (CTP) at North Sidi Ghazy Field.

The first appraisal well Sidi Salem South East-2-3 (SSSE), was drilled to test the north-eastern extension of field in a down-dip location 2 km south-south-west of the SSSE-2x discovery well. The well encountered a gas-down-to at
-2647 m, some 33 m deeper than the gas-down-to seen in the SSSE-2x well. The second appraisal well SSSE-2-2, targeted the northern field extension and again encountered a gas-down-to at -2632 m.

The occurrence of gas-down-to levels in progressively down-dip well locations is suggestive that a field-wide intraformational bottom seal is part of the trapping mechanism in the SSSE-2 Field commented Richard Vaughan, Disouq Subsurface Project Head. The third well SSSE-1-2, was drilled successfully as an appraisal of the separate SSSE-1 structure 1.5 km east of the discovery. “We are very encouraged by the overall results of the recent appraisal wells. All SSSE wells have been completed and temporarily suspended as gas producers. Perforations will be added as part of a rig-less campaign later in 2014/15”, added Vaughan.

The Weatherford 94 Rig is now drilling the final Phase B Disouq Development well namely, Disouq-1-3. The well targets multiple reservoirs levels of Pliocene and Late Miocene age in an adjacent structural compartment to the east of the main Disouq Field some 30 km from the Disouq CTP. Results from the near-field exploration well Disouq-1-3 are expected in July 2014.

Meanwhile, RWE Dea Egypt received internal approval to drill a further three near-field exploitation wells in the Disouq Development Lease. “The addition of these wells shows RWE Dea’s continuing commitment to add reserves to its Disouq Development Project”, explained Maximilian Fellner, RWE Dea Egypt's General Manager. He went on to comment that "through our partnership with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company we want to boost the gas production beyond the currently planned production target of 100 MMSCFD to meet the ever-growing energy demands of Egypt". This next phase of drilling, which targets again the Late Miocene Abu Madi Formation, will follow on immediately after the completion of the Disouq-1-3 well.


Contacts
Uwe-Stephan Lagies
Head of Corporate Communications
T +49 40 6375-2511
M +49 162 2732511

Derek Mösche
Press Spokesman
T +49 40 6375-2670
M +49 162 2732670

Notes to the editors
RWE Dea AG, headquartered in Hamburg, is an international company engaged in the exploration and production of natural gas and crude oil. The company deploys state-of-the-art drilling and production technologies and puts its many years’ experience acquired to good use in its activities. RWE Dea has set new standards in the fields of safety and environmental protection.

RWE Dea has stakes in production facilities and concessions in Germany, the UK, Norway, Denmark, Egypt and Algeria, and holds exploration licenses in Ireland, Libya, Mauritania, Poland, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turkmenistan. Moreover, in Germany RWE Dea operates large subterranean storage facilities for natural gas. RWE Dea is part of the RWE Group, one of Europe’s largest energy utilities.