The Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 Well

We drilled the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well to a depth of 17,913 feet (5,460 meters).

As you can see in the photographs above (taken yesterday, Thursday, December 3, 2009) the workover rig is on location and adjacent to the well head. When I visited the Ma’anit site to take the photographs shown above, I found Aladdin Middle East’s Drilling Manager, Rasim Yoruk, taking his own photographs. He feels a great connection to the site, as it is the first well he has drilled in Israel and he wants to keep a complete personal record of the operations at the site. Such is the deep personal connection that we all feel about our work.

As previously noted, the completion procedures have been agreed and the workover rig contract signed. Starting next week, we intend to begin swabbing and completion testing operations and are looking forward to getting back to work at the Ma’anit-Rehoboth #2 well site.

Drilling Operations at the Elijah #3 Well

The A.M.E. drilling rig, at dusk, at the Elijah #3 site

The Elijah #3 well has been cased from the surface down to 3,461 feet (1,055 meters).

For approximately ten days, from November 19 to 29, we were drilling very hard formation (Lower Cretaceous Tayasir Volcanics) with a PDC bit. The progress was slow and the drilling required much care and attention.

However, we managed to penetrate the volcanics and, ever since, we have been drilling in Upper Jurassic carbonates with a down-hole motor and a tri-cone tungsten carbide insert bit.

Even though the hard volcanic rock was fully expected, the drilling crew certainly prefers drilling at a rate of penetration of 50 meters per day rather than 5 meters per day.

As of today, Friday, December 4, 2009, we have drilled to a depth of approximately 5,740 feet (1,750 meters) and are very satisfied with the drilling progress to date.