BP revealed that it has reached a significant milestone in the development of the Khazzan gas project in Oman, with the successful drilling and completion of the 50th well at the large gas field in Block 61, said a report.

This is the final well targeted for completion enabling first gas to be delivered later this year, added the Oman Daily Observer report.

These first 50 wells will enable production of 1.0 billion cubic feet of gas a day (bcf/d) to be achieved from first gas onwards and delivered to the sultanate. This will rise to 1.5 bcf/d once the second phase of the Khazzan project is fully up and running in 2020, it said.

A total of over 300 wells will be drilled over the estimated lifetime of the Khazzan project. The Khazzan gas reserves lie at depths of up to five kilometres in narrow bands of extremely hard, dense rock.

These complex and challenging conditions require specialist cutting and drilling equipment, the drilling of both vertical and horizontal wells, stimulation technologies to free the gas, as well as accuracy and efficiency.

Local Omani businesses have provided rigs, stimulation and drilling support, with BP bringing to bear its advanced seismic, hydraulic fracturing and well design expertise.

Omani firms have won drilling contracts valued at 85 per cent of the total spend at Khazzan and 60 per cent of overall well services contracts.

Drilling efficiency has increased significantly in the three years since drilling began with the average time to drill and complete a vertical well reduced by 27 per cent. A record time of 60 days was recently achieved for completion of one well.

BP is the Operator of Block 61 and holds a 60 per cent interest, added the report.