OMV Aktiengesellschaft, a leading oil and gas group in Central Europe, has announced the discovery and successful testing of condensate and gas in its Sourour-1 exploration well in the Jenein Sud exploration permit in Southern Tunisia.

This is the fourth successful discovery in the permit within the last two years and highlights the potential of this block, which is operated by OMV (Tunesien) Exploration, said an OMV official.

'The exploration well reached a total depth of 4,013 m and encountered a total of 20 m net gas and condensate pay in several layers at depths ranging from 3,700 m to 3,950 m,' Helmut Langanger, OMV executive board member incharge of exploration and production.

'Further exploration and appraisal activities in the area are the currently ongoing 3D seismic survey and the planned drilling of additional wells,' he noted.

'This promising series of discoveries in our Jenein Sud exploration block supports our efforts to grow in Tunisia, an important country in our North African core region,' he added.

The cumulative flow rate of all layers tested by the Sourour-1 well amounts to 1,200 bbl/d of condensate and 58 mn cf/d (9,700 boe/d) of gas.

Drilling of the next well in the block, the Ahlem-2 appraisal well, is expected to begin in January next year.

Langanger said the acquisition of a 600 sq km of additional 3D seismic, which began in mid-July, will be completed by the end of the year.

OMV and the Tunisian national oil company ETAP each hold a 50 per cent interest in the Jenein Sud exploration permit, which covers an area of 1,992 sq km, 700 km south of capital Tunis.-TradeArabia News Service