26-06-08 UK independent Gulf Keystone Petroleum is set to progress to the second prospecting term of the Hassi Ba Hamou (HBH) permit in Algeria after striking a 61 metre gas column with the RM-1 exploration well, its first exploration success on the licence.
The RM-1 reached a total depth of 1,111 metres on a separate prospect some 50 km to the south-east of the HBH gas field. During a production test the well flowed at a rate of 8.7 mm cfpd.

The gas column was uncovered in sands of the Siegenian age. Following the success of RM-1, Gulf has agreed to go into the second prospecting period of the HBH permit with a work programme obligation of 500 sq km of 3D seismic, one exploration well and two appraisal wells.
Gulf said the drilling rig will now move to drill well FEG-1, the third and final exploration well to be drilled, and the fourth in the current six well drilling campaign.

The HBH permit, which contains the HBH gas field, was awarded in April 2005.
It includes five blocks within an area of 18,380 sq km in the Bechar basin in Algeria’s Western Desert.