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Circle spuds its Tunisian oil well

Thursday, November 01 10:26:32

Limerick-based, North Africa focussed prospector, Circle Oil, today said that it has supdded a well in its Tunisian exploration licence.

The Bou Argoub-1 (BAB-1) exploration well in the South West Belli area of the Grombalia Permit, near to the Belli, El Manzah, and Beni Khaled fields has spudded and commenced drilling on 30 October 2012, Circle said.

The BAB-1 well has an expected total depth of 1,350 metres and is targeting a fault-bounded structural culmination crossing two vertically stacked fractured carbonate reservoirs, the Eocene Bou Dabbous Formation and the Late Cretaceous Abiod Formation. These are the main oil-producing formations in the north-eastern part of Tunisia.

Following completion of the BAB-1 well, the rig will move south to the Ras Marmour Permit in preparation to drill the Sedouikch commitment exploration well. This well has an expected total depth of 2,350 metres and is targeting the Early Cretaceous Lower Meloussi sands, productive in the nearby Robanna and Mazrane Fields.

The Grombalia Permit covers an area of 2,792 square kilometres. The partners include Exxoil Tunisie Ltd (64pc working interest and operator) and Circle (36pc working interest).

The Ras Marmour Permit covers an area of 1,604 square kilometres. The partners include Exxoil Tunisie Ltd (77pc working interest and operator) and Circle (23pc working interest).