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LONDON (Alliance News) - Oil and gas company Rockhopper Exploration PLC on Thursday said it has made progress within its Greater Mediterranean portfolio, including an agreement on a drilling programme for 2019.
Following joint venture approval, drilling for 2019 includes one exploration well, two in-fill oil producing wells, and a second water injection well on the Al Jahraa field, onshore Egypt.
A 20-inch conductor has been set in place at the Al Jahraa-11 location, and a rig has been mobilised to the site. Spudding is expected to take place at the end of February, and the well is expected to take 54 days to complete.
In Abu Sennan in Egypt, in which Rockhopper has a 22% working interest, current gross production stands at 4,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 10% rise over average production rates during 2018.
For the ASZ-1X well on prospect S in Egypt, with an oil discovery made in the Abu Roash-C reservoir, Rockhopper is waiting for government approval for the awarding of a development lease over the discovery.
Finally, Rockhopper is currently in international arbitration proceedings against Italy over the Ombrina Mare field. The hearing took place in early February with post hearing briefs to be submitted in the coming months and an outcome expected late in the third quarter of 2019.
Shares in Rockhopper Exploration were up 1.6% at 22.70 pence on Thursday.
