Operations on the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 Well
In last week’s update (dated September 25, 2009) I wrote:
“We have decided, for the present, not to drill any deeper in this well and are now analyzing and establishing the priorities of the seven zones that warrant completion testing. The well bore is in excellent condition and it is also possible that we will drill this well deeper in the future. Next week, I will comment further.”
The Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well was planned as a deep well in order to test the Permian geological formation and the original planned target depth was 5,500 meters (18,040 feet).
During the planning of the well, our geologists, basing their opinion on the available seismic and other data, believed that drilling to the planned target depth of 5,500 meters (18,040 feet) would result in us testing the Permian geological layer.
In September 2009, when our drilling reached a depth of 5,460 meters (17,913 feet), we had reached a depth less than 1% away from the original target depth.
However, during drilling, it became apparent that we were, in fact, drilling into a ‘fault line’. (This means that the rock on one side of the fracture had moved with respect to the rock on the other side.) To make matters more complicated, there did not seem to have been just one fault line but more likely a ‘fault zone’.
Due to the presence of the fault zone, the geological formation in which we were drilling required much more analysis.
After carrying out that analysis, we decided that, almost certainly, we were still in the Triassic geological layer and could not determine how much further we would have to drill to reach the Permian geological layer.
In the light of the uncertainty regarding the depth of the Permian geological layer at our well site and knowing that we have found seven zones that warrant completion testing, we decided that the prudent course, for the present, was to stop drilling on this well and (i) test the seven zones mentioned, as well as (ii) carry out further analysis on the geology, using the drilling and logging data obtained in the last weeks. However, at a later stage, if we decide to, we can drill this well deeper.
Not only did we have the benefit of our internal experts, Dr. Druckman, Dr. Kashai and Stephen Pierce who between them have over 100 years of professional experience, but we also received input from external organizations and experts, such as the ‘The Geophysical Institute of Israel’ and Dr. Dorit Korengrin and Dr. Brian Conway of ‘The Geological Survey of Israel’.
The Geophysical Institute of Israel specializes in the application of geophysical methods for mapping the structure and characteristics of the subsurface; their website address is:
http://www.gii.co.il/index.php?page_id=1&lang_action=change_lang&to_lang=en
The Geological Survey of Israel is involved in earth science research and development; their website address is:
Preparations at the site of the Elijah #3 Well
This coming week, we plan to start rigging down (at the Ma’anit site) and start moving the drilling rig and equipment to the site of the Elijah #3 well.
We have initiated our security on the area and equipment has now started to arrive on site.
We have set the ‘conductor pipe’; that is, a short length of pipe, driven into the ground. Conductor pipe is run because the initial shallow section of the well is drilled in unconsolidated soil rather than consolidated strata (i.e. solid formations) encountered deeper.
We estimate that we will start drilling in approximately the middle of October 2009.
