During the first test, oil has been produced to surface at rates of up to 750 bopd from a 12-meter interval through a 13/64” choke. The oil recovered has an API gravity of around 35 degrees.
The remaining test programme is expected to take up to three weeks.
The Shakal structure is on the same trend as the nearby Pulkhana discovery to the northwest, which has encountered oil at a number of reservoir levels. While it is premature to publish any estimates of hydrocarbon volumes in the Shakal structure, the results are clearly encouraging.
Oil Search holds a 15% working interest in the Shakal PSC, with Shakal Production Ltd as operator with 36%, Petoil with 9%, the Kurdistan regional government-owned public company holding 20% and 20% reserved for a third party, to be nominated by the government.
