Noble Energy partners in South Cyprus’ block 12, Delek Drilling and Avner, have announce the decision to perform a production test. The so-called drill stem test, at Aphrodite A-2, located in Block 12 in Cyprus’ self-designated EEZ has been approved.
The two companies said that the estimated budget for the production tests (100%) will be approximately US$ 64 million.
Production tests are expected to start in the coming days and last for approximately a month, they have said.
A drill stem test (DST) is a procedure for testing the pressure, quality and productive capacity of a geological formation during the drilling of a well.
Exploratory drilling carried out by Noble energy in 2011 revealed an estimated resource of 5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) to 8 tcf, with a mean of 7 tcf. Noble Energy began an appraisal well last June, with results expected late September.
Noble Energy operates Block 12 with a 70 percent working interest. Delek Drilling Limited Partnership and Avner Oil Exploration Limited Partnership each own 15 percent.
On June 26, the South Cyprus government, Delek and Avner signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with regard to the construction of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in the South.