Echo Energy plc, the South and Central American focused upstream oil and gas company, is pleased to announce its 2018 work programme, onshore Argentina.

Image source: KeyFacts Energy

The programme is expected to commence in March 2018 with 3 back-to-back workovers of existing wells on Fracción D which will then be followed by 4 back-to-back exploration wells on Fracción C and Laguna De Los Capones.

The Company is also simultaneously initiating a seismic programme as it looks to unlock the potential of its highly prospective Tapi Aike exploration block where the Competent Person's Report included in the Company's admission document dated 15 December 2017 ("CPR") identified an inventory of 41 leads, across three independent play types, including five individual leads each in excess of 1 Tcf and up to 3.8 Tcf. On an aggregated basis over 22 Tcf of gross unrisked potential GIIP was identified across the Tapi Aike Block  (2.7 - 11.0 - 22.5 Tcf (Low-Mean-High)).

Exploration Well Programme

The Company is delighted to confirm a back-to-back 4 exploration well programme, in the Company's producing licences of Fracción C and Laguna de Los Capones.

Drilling each well is expected to take approximately 15 days and cost some US$1.8M (Gross) on a dry hole basis, with completion costs of around US$1.0M (Gross). Drilling and environmental permits for the wells are very advanced, with approval for the first well (ELM1004) already complete and permits for the other wells likely to be approved by April 2018.

The Company has now secured the 1,000 Hp hydraulic PetrevenH-205 rig for the drilling programme, which has an excellent operational and safety track record and has has been on contract to CGC (the Company's partner on its licences in Argentina) since 2016 elsewhere in the basin.

Appraisal Workovers

Prior to commencing the exploration drilling programme on Fracción C and Laguna De Los Capones, the Company will complete three workovers, currently anticipated to commence in March 2018. The workovers will cover previously drilled but suspended gas wells in another of the Company's producing licences (Fracción D). Each workover is expected to take approximately 10 days and cost a total of US$0.55M per well. The programme will involve perforation or re-perforation of each of the wells in the already discovered but uncompleted gas zones of the Springhill Formation. The wells will then be put on an extended well test prior to any sanction of commercialisation.

Seismic Acquisition

In addition to the above drilling and workovers, the Company is focusing on unlocking its  exploration potential in the Tapi Aike licence. As a first step towards the planned first exploration drill in 2019, the Company is planning a 1,200km seismic acquisition programme. Tendering for the acquisition programme is underway and six companies were invited to bid. The Company expects to initiate the programme in Q4 2018 and the results of the seismic will enable the planning of the first transformational exploration well in the area in 2019.