PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) and its partners SONATRACH and CNOOC Limited have reported successful drilling results in the third exploration phase of the Hassi Bir Rekaiz project onshore Algeria. Under the third exploration phase, the Rhourde Ez Zita-1bis (REZ-1bis) exploration well was drilled at 4,037 meter depth. Drill Stem Test (DST) was conducted with crude oil in the formations of Triassic Argilo Greseux Inférieur (TAGI) at the average crude oil flow of 6,152 barrels per day (BPD) and associated gas flow of 6.5 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), and in formations of Ordovician (Ouargla Sandstone) with the average flow rates of crude oil at 302 BPD and associated gas of 0.2 MMSCFD. Then this well confirms the huge potential for BOG discovery.

Somporn Vongvuthipornchai, PTTEP President and CEO, said,
"We are very satisfied with results of REZ-1bis. It marks a significant oil flow rate in the Hassi Bir Rekaiz project added up to the previous exploration campaigns."

The exploration campaign in Hassi Bir Rekaiz has started since 2014 and found both crude oil and associated gas in 10 exploration wells out of 11 wells totally.

The Hassi Bir Rekaiz field is located onshore in the Eastern part of Algeria. It covers an area of 5,378 square meters. PTTEP is the operator during exploration period with 24.5% interest. Its joint venture partners are SONATRACH, the Algerian National Oil and Gas Company with 51% interest, and CNOOC Ltd., China’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas with 24.5% interest.