Zion Oil and Gas reports encouraging results on exploratory well in Israel

(WO) — American operator Zion Oil and Gas continues to be optimistic about a wildcat well it has drilled onshore Israel. On Monday, Zion updated results on testing that the firm is conducting in the MJ-02 well on the Megiddo-Jezreel license.

The company says that it is encouraged by the results of recent testing operations, particularly with respect to the lower of two prospective zones that have been perforated near the final drilled depth of the well.

“This lower zone, which is approximately 20 m in thickness, is our primary zone of interest,” said Zion Oil and Gas CEO Rob Dunn. “Although we are encouraged, more work remains to be done, and we have no assurance the zone will produce hydrocarbons in commercial quantities or whether the well ultimately will prove to be successful.

“We are currently facing a downhole obstacle, in the form of heavy water influx from the upper zone, inhibiting the potential flow from the lower zone,” continued Dunn. “After consultation with outside experts, we plan to isolate and neutralize the heavy water influx by procuring a 4 ½-in. packer and installing it below the heavy water zone and above our primary zone, but we have no assurance this procedure will be successful.”

Following the annual operational hiatus for the next few weeks of Jewish holidays, Zion says it plans to begin operations to install the packer and test the flowrate of the primary zone.