At last, the second well spuds (note this happened on 21st March) on the MOL operated Akri-Bijeel block. GKP have a 20% interest (before back in rights). This now brings the total of drills ongoing to 3 which is pretty impressive for a company in Kurdistan. A fourth well, on the Genel Operated BerBahr Block is also expected to spud in the next few weeks which would total 4 wells ongoing. GKP really are racing ahead with appraising Shaikan but also exploration in SA-1, BK-1 and soon to be BB-1.
25 March 2011, Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd. (AIM: GKP)
Kurdistan Operational Update
Spudding of Bekhme-1 Exploration Well
Gulf Keystone is pleased to announce that the Bekhme-1 Exploration Well has spudded on the Akri-Bijeel block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on Monday, 21(st) March 2011.
Bekhme-1 is the second exploration well to be drilled on the Akri-Bijeel block, 20 km to the north-east from the Bijell–1 discovery well (Operator’s P50 estimate of 2.4 billion barrels of oil in place). Bekhme-1 will target prospective intervals in the Jurassic and the Triassic with a planned depth of approximately 3000 meters.
The Company has a 20 percent working interest in the Akri-Bijeel block operated by Kalegran Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc., which holds 80 percent working interest in the block.
John Gerstenlauer, Gulf Keystone’s Chief Operating Officer commented:
“Bekhme-1 is the first well to be drilled on the large surface feature that dominates the north of the Akri-Bijeel block, which is adjacent to the Shaikan block with proven oil and gas reservoirs. The discoveries at Bijell-1 and Shaikan have considerably de-risked this new drilling target making Bekhme an attractive prospect.”