Cygam Energy Provides Updates on Operations in Tunisia
01-16-2008
Cygam Energy Inc.
announces that completion operations at the 6- 30-50-16 W5M development well in
the South Edson gas/condensate field have commenced today. The Corporation has a
9% working interest in the field. Additionally, plans are being finalized to
deepen the 4-21-50-16W5M well to the main Elkton/Shunda producing zone in the
same field.
In Tunisia, Cygam will participate for a 14% working interest in the drilling of
the TT-2 exploratory well on the Sud Remada permit operated by Storm Ventures
International. Drilling operations are expected to commence toward the beginning
of March once the Canadian High Arctic rig, currently drilling in southern
Tunisia, becomes available. The TT-2 well will be drilled on a large Ordovician
structure, with indicated areal extent of over 70 square kilometres, which was
mapped on the basis of extensive seismic coverage and new 2-D seismic data
acquired in mid-2007. The well will be drilled to a total depth of approximately
2,000 metres and it is expected that drilling and testing operations will
require approximately 30 days. The Sud Remada permit covers an area of 1,173,215
acres and several un-drilled structures with potential in the Ordovician and in
the Silurian have been mapped.
Cygam is also finalizing plans to drill the first exploratory well on its Bazma
permit and may use the High Arctic rig after drilling operations are completed
at Sud Remada. This exploratory well will be drilled on a seismic anomaly
similar to the offsetting Tarfa gas/condensate field and will test the Triassic
Tagi sands at an expected depth of approximately 2,500 metres. The Bazma permit
encompasses an area of approximately 400,000 acres and several Triassic Tagi
leads have been identified by seismic data so far. Both the Tarfa and Baguel
fields, which are immediately adjacent to the southwest corner of the Bazma
permit, produce gas and condensate from the same Tagi formation. A northbound
pipeline carrying gas and condensate from the Tarfa and Baguel fields is located
within two kilometres from the proposed well location.
At Jorf, Cygam is finalizing plans to acquire approximately 200 kilometres of
new 2-D seismic data in the northern portion of this 931,060 acres permit. This
new seismic program has been designed to confirm the presence of deep Permian
pinnacle reefs and Triassic Tagi structures. It is expected that the seismic
program will commence by mid-year.
Interpretation of extensive 2-D seismic data on the Sud Tozeur block, comprising
1,082,283 acres located in west central Tunisia adjacent to the Algerian border,
is currently being finalized. Cygam completed a 61 km 2-D seismic delineation
program on the permit in early 2007 and has integrated the new and old seismic
data to finalize the best drilling location on a large structure, with Triassic
and Ordovician reservoir potential. This structure was previously explored by
another operator in 1997 by drilling the Sud Nefta-1, well to a depth of 4,677
meters. The well encountered numerous oil and gas shows in Triassic, Ordovician
and Cambrian clastic reservoirs during drilling operations. However, on
subsequent testing, the formations failed to produce hydrocarbons, likely as a
result of significant formation damage and invasion of solids from heavy
drilling fluids and excessive cement. Cygam may consider re-entering and
sidetracking the Sud Nefta-1 well to test undamaged and potentially thicker
sections of Triassic and Ordovician reservoirs. Alternatively, one of several
additional structures which have been identified in the western portion of the
permit, on trend with proven Algerian fields, or a structure approximately 10
kilometres north of the El Franig field may be selected for drilling. It is
anticipated that drilling operations at Sud Tozeur may commence in Q4, 2008,
subject to rig availability.
On the Tunisian permits operated by Cygam, the Corporation will be farming out
some of its interest in the various blocks. In this regard, Cygam is pleased to
announce that it has signed an option agreement with Zappa Resources Ltd.
("Zappa") on January 2, 2008, whereby Zappa can earn a 10% working interest in
the Bazma permit by paying 15% in the first two wells drilled on separate
structures, and can earn a 10% working interest in the Sud Tozeur permit by
paying 15% of the first two wells drilled on separate structures on that permit.
Zappa will also continue its joint venture agreement with Cygam on the Jorf
permit by paying 15% of a proposed 200 kilometre seismic program slated for the
northern section of the concession. Cygam has also received expressions of
interest from other companies willing to participate in exploratory activities
on its permits in Tunisia.
Cygam is a Calgary based exploration company with producing oil and gas
properties in Canada and extensive international exploration concessions. The
main focus of the Corporation is the acquisition, exploration and development of
international oil and gas permits, primarily in Italy, Tunisia and the
Mediterranean basin. Cygam currently holds various interests in five exploratory
concessions in Italy and four exploratory concessions in Tunisia encompassing
approximately 4 million gross acres (approximately 2.7 million net acres).