United Oil & Gas PLC, the full-cycle oil and gas company with a portfolio of production, development, exploration and appraisal assets has announced the commencement of production from ASH-8 development well (“ASH-8”) in the Abu Sennan licence, onshore Egypt. on 16 March at an initial stabilised rate of c. 2,980 bopd and 2.64 mmscf/d gross (c. 656 bopd and 0.58 mmscf/d net). United holds a 22% working interest in the licence, which is operated by Kuwait Energy Egypt.

Production has come onstream six weeks ahead of the anticipated schedule, at a higher rate than originally forecast resulting in group H1 production now expected to be at the upper end of the guided range of 700 – 900 bopd net

As previously announced, the ASH-8 development well was interpreted to have encountered 22 metres of net oil pay in the primary Alam El Bueib (“AEB”) reservoir target, in line with pre-drill expectations. After reaching TD on the 21 February, the well was completed and tested on a number of different choke sizes, as summarised in the table below.

The well has now been tied into the existing facilities and brought on stream at an initial rate of c. 2,980 bopd and 2.64 mmscf/d gross (656 bopd and 0.58 mmscf/d net) on a 32/64″ choke. The production from the well will continue to be monitored, so that the long-term production potential can be assessed. However, the currently stable rates coupled with the lack of water-cut and the pressures observed in the well provide positive indicators for its longer-term potential. With the well coming onstream nearly six weeks ahead of schedule, and with rates above pre-drill expectations, the Company’s H1 actual production is expected to be at the upper end of the production guidance of 700-900 bopd net.

The ST-1 rig is now moving towards the ASD-3 location to drill the second development well in the 2023 drilling programme, which is expected to spud in the coming weeks.

“We are very happy with the results from the ASH-8 well, and it is pleasing to see the well being brought on stream at a stabilised production rate of over 2,900 bopd some six weeks ahead of schedule. This is the fifth well in the highly productive ASH field, which has so far produced in excess of 4 million barrels of oil. The successful result at ASH-8 will have a positive impact on group production levels and revenue and further highlights the long-term value of the field.  We look forward to drilling the next development well at ASD-3 on a location that was high-graded by the JV Partners following the success of the ASD-2 well in March 2022,” Brian Larkin, CEO, commented.