Date : 15 Apr 2007
Source : Sonatrach news release

Sonatrach announces this Sunday 15 April 2007, the realization of four (4) hydrocarbon discoveries in the Berkine and Illizi basins. These discoveries were done in association with the following companies :

- A gas discovery in association with the Canadian company First Calgary Petroleum in the Berkine basin was made as a result of the drilling of well MZLS-2 (Menzel Ledjmat Sud-2) located in the Ledjmat area (block 405b).


The MZLS-2 well flowed at a maximum rate of 2006m3 of gas per hour in the Trias Argilo Gréseux inférieur (TAGI) through a 32/64 inch choke with a flowing tubing pressure of 499 psi.

- Two gas and oil discoveries in association with Medex Petroleum North Africa Ltd in the Illizi basin after the drilling of wells GTTN-1 (Gara Tin Tamelra) and WHD-1 (West Ihansaten D-1) respectively located in the Erg Issaouane (block 226/229b) and Bourarhet Nord areas (block 242).

The GTTN -1 well flowed at a maximum rate of 2875m3 of gas per hour in the Devonian reservoir (F2) through a 32/64 inch choke with a flowing tubing pressure of 473 psi.

The WHD-1 well flowed at a maximum rate of 3.46m3 of oil per hour in the inferior Devonian reservoir (F6C3) through a 32/64 inch choke with a flowing tubing pressure of 30 psi.

- One gas discovery in association with Petroceltic International PLC in the Illizi basin after the drilling of well HTT-2 (Hassi Tabtab-2) located in the Isarene area (blocks 228/229a).

This well flowed at a maximum rate of 7905m3 of gas per hour in the Devonian F2 through a 32/64 inch choke with a flowing tubing pressure of 1141 psi.

Sonatrach has made a total of six (6) discoveries of which two were done by the company itself.