By NNN-APS
Algiers : Algerian national hydrocarbons company Sonatrach has announced two new gas discoveries in the southeastern part of the country.
The first find was made by Sonatrach on its own in the Ahnet Basin and the second was made in partnership with Norwegian company Statoil Hydro in the Gourara Basin, the company said in a statement Monday.
The first discovery occurred in the Tidikelt area (Block 338 A). A shallow (less than 1,200 m), two-level well had flow rates of 9.743 cubic metres per hour (m3/h) and 5.737 m3/h, according to the technical details given by the company.
The second gas discovery had a flow rate of 6 971 m3/h. The well is situated in the Hassi Mouina area (Block 321 B), in the Gourara Basin, where Sonatrach and Statoil have been operating in association since 2006, a combined effort that had to a previous discovery.
“The findings made in the Algerian southeast basins put a slant on the promising nature of the region, expected to become, in a near future, an important gas area,” according to Sonatrach.
The new finds raised the number of gas discoveries made this year by Sonatrach to 18, seven of which were made by the company and 11 in partnerships, the statement added.
Meanwhile, it was announced in Oran that an international conference on energy is to be held, under the theme “What partnership to improve research and development,” on Dec 11 and 12 at the initiative of Sonatrach’s downstream division.
The meeting is the continuation of efforts started at the first conference held on June 15 and 16, 2005 in Oran, on research and development in downstream activities, the company said.
The conference coincides with the current requirements necessitating a reclassification of research and development in downstream activities in order to make it in line with the Sonatrach group’s strategy.
It also aims at bringing together partners, scientific researchers and other hydrocarbon operators to discuss their experiences and the appropriate conditions to make a success of the adopted strategy and partnership opportunities provided by downstream activity.
The meeting will also debate downstream activity priorities, including the development of the adopted production techniques and solar energy, among others.
The conference agenda comprises three main themes — the role of partnerships in research and development, challenges and approaches, national and international experiences in development and scientific research, and the legal framework for the promotion of partnership in research and development.