Sharjah: Dana Gas has discovered a new pool in the Six Hills ‘E' reservoir in the Al Baraka-4 well, drilled as an appraisal of the Al Baraka field in the Komombo Concession in southern Egypt.

The well is currently on-stream producing at a rate more than five times the sustained flow rate from any previous well in the field.

The Al Baraka-4 well was spudded on December 5, 2009 and reached a depth of 1,470 metres. It is located 470 metres to the southwest of Al Baraka-2 well.

The well encountered 16 metres of net oil pay in the previously defined reservoirs in addition to eight metres in the new Six Hills ‘E' layer.

The new reservoir is proving to be more productive than the currently producing zones, having tested oil with natural flow to surface at a rate of 220 barrels of oil per day (bopd). It is the first well in the concession to flow oil to the surface through the natural energy of the reservoir, without requiring artificial lift.

Artficial lifting

The well was also tested with artificial lifting at a maximum rate of 1,300 bopd. The volume of reserves discovered is under evaluation.

Dr Hani Al Sharkawi, president of Dana Gas Egypt, said: "Al Baraka-4 expands a new era of petroleum exploration in southern Egypt.

"The fact that oil has flowed naturally to surface from a new layer with better reservoir quality demonstrates that the Komombo basin is more prolific than originally thought."

Ahmad Al Arbeed, Dana Gas CEO, said, "Our team in Egypt has worked with dedication and professionalism to develop our understanding of this emerging oil province."