News** News**News**
Sydney, Oct 3, 2011 (ABN Newswire) - ADX Energy Limited (ASX:ADX) is pleased to announce that the Sidi Dhaher well has encountered an interpreted oil column of approximately 30 metres on the basis of pressure data as well as oil recovered together with mud filtrate from down hole sampling. To determine the potential commerciality of the discovery a well test will be required to confirm oil production at commercial rates.
The Sidi Dhaher-1 well has been drilled to a total depth of 2011 meters measured depth (m MD). Wireline logs, as well as formation pressures and reservoir fluids have been acquired over the open-hole interval from 999 to 2011 m MD in order to evaluate the quality and hydrocarbon content of several potential reservoirs encountered within this bore hole section.
The well has intersected pre-Tertiary aged section structurally higher than originally predicted. Wireline logs indicate several potential reservoir zones within both the Tertiary and Cretaceous aged sections respectively, with relatively high porosity and permeability interpreted within Upper Cretaceous aged formations.
Wireline fluid sampling from an Upper Cretaceous aged reservoir has recovered a mixture of drilling mud, drilling mud filtrate and oil. This recovery indicates deep invasion of drilling fluids into a permeable reservoir and the presence of moveable oil. The oil gradient calculated from formation pressures within the interpreted oil column suggests the presence of relatively light oil.
After running casing to preserve well-bore integrity, the well will be suspended to secure the well pending future production testing operations to determine oil quality and reservoir productivity.
The 9 5/8"casing has now been set to a depth of 1295m. Following suspension to secure the well the current drilling rig will be released from location and testing operations will be conducted utilizing more appropriately sized and cost effective equipment.
Weekly operations forecast:
- Complete suspension operations
- Release and demobilize drilling rig
The Sidi Dhaher prospect is located in the 2,428km2 large Chorbane Exploration Permit onshore central Tunisia near the port city of Sfax. It is surrounded by several producing oil fields and extensive oil and gas infrastructure.
Participant interests in the Sidi Dhaher -1 well will be as follows;
ADX Energy Ltd 40% Operator
Gulfsands Petroleum Plc 40% *
XState Resources Ltd 10% * (ASX code: XST)
Verus Investments Limited 10% * (ASX code: VIL)
Note: The respective participant interests in the Sidi Dhaher well and the Chorbane Permit are based on the completion of all farmin obligations.
About ADX Energy Limited
The company's strategy is two pronged; grow the European and North African oil and gas business in order to expose shareholders to the lucrative European energy market and to promote it's existing Australian energy, gold and base metal portfolio to capitalise on the current high commodity price environment.
ADX was incorporated in 1987 in order to explore for gold and base metals in Western Australia. The company has recently diversified from its initial minerals focus to include oil and gas exploration. To that effect ADX farmed in PEL 182 into the South Australian portion of the Cooper Basin in 2005.
ADX appointed Wolfgang Zimmer, an oil and gas industry professional with over 27 years experience, as Managing Director in late 2007 to grow the company’s oil and gas business. Subsequent director and staff appointments and the establishment of a European office have boosted the depth of oil and gas experience in the company and allowed the company to expand its oil and gas activities.
Currently ADX operates permits onshore and offshore Tunisia, offshore Italy and onshore Australia and holds an interest in a non operated block in onshore Romania.
ADX is also a participant and operator of a number of AMI's (Area/s of Mutual Interest) that enable it and its partners to efficiently act upon business opportunities.
Contact
Wolfgang Zimmer
Managing Director
TEL: +61-8-9226-2822
Ian Tchacos
Chairman
TEL: +61-8-9226-2822