Emerald Energy Regulatory News (EEN)

16 Jun 2009 07:00



Emerald Energy Plc

16 June 2009

Operations Update - Syria, Block 26

Emerald Energy Plc ("Emerald" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following update on operations in Block 26, Syria. 

Khurbet East No.10 Development Well

Drilling operations have been completed at the Khurbet East No.10 horizontal well, the second of three development wells being drilled in the central area of the field to support the expansion of the Khurbet East early production facility. 

Khurbet East No.10 has a surface location adjacent to the recently completed Khurbet East No.9 development well, approximately one kilometre south of the Khurbet East No.1 discovery well, and enters the Cretaceous Massive reservoir approximately 700 metres to the northwest of the surface location. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 2,329 metres with an equivalent true vertical depth of 1,926 metres. The top of the oil bearing Cretaceous Massive reservoir was encountered at a true vertical depth of 1,927 metres, consistent with the pre-drill prediction, and a horizontal section of approximately 260 metres was penetrated within the uppermost part of the reservoir with properties consistent with the reservoir evaluated in the other high performance wells in the central portion of the Khurbet East field.

Tie-in operations will now commence on Khurbet East No.10 and the previously drilled Khurbet East No.9 well with production from these wells expected to begin during July, coincident with the completion of the expansion of the Khurbet East early production facility. As the Khurbet East No.10 well will be tied into the production facility immediately, a flow test of the well was not undertaken.

The rig will now move to commence drilling of the Khurbet East No.11 well, the third of the three development wells planned to support the expansion of the early production facility.

Emerald's Chief Executive Officer, Angus MacAskill, said:

"We are very pleased with the continued progress in the development of the Khurbet East field with the successful drilling of the second of three development wells to support the expansion of the early production facility. The expanded facility, with a designed fluid handling capacity of 18,000 barrels per day, is expected to commence operation in July 2009."

Enquiries: Lisa Hibberd 020 7925 2440