United Oil & Gas PLC (LON:UOG) says latest drill results from the assets in Egypt it will buy from Rockhopper Exploration PLC (LON:RKH) next year underline their quality.
The junior has agreed to acquire Rockhopper’s non-operator 22% stake in the onshore Abu Sennan concession.
Drilling at the ASH-2 well hit 50m of net pay in the Alam El Bueib reservoir that lies west-south-west of ASH-15T2, which is producing 340 barrels per day currently.
Initial results from the ASH-2 well were described as excellent by United, which added it is confident the well will further increase the output from Abu Sennan.
Production from the Al Jahraa SE-1X well, meanwhile, has risen to 450 barrels per day from 200bpd following successful fracking.
Brian Larkin, United’s chief executive, said: “Today's announcement is further proof of the quality of the assets that United has agreed to acquire.
“Abu Sennan has a historic drilling success rate of over 80% and rising.
“Over the last year production at the licence has gone from just over 800bpd to 1,100bpd net as a result of the successful four well development drilling campaign.
“While we will wait to see the sustainable production levels on the ASH-2 well over the coming weeks, these initial results are excellent and we are confident that this well will further increase production.”
A work programme already in place for 2020 will see a further four wells, while the deal with Rockhopper is set to complete in January.
The deal with Rockhopper constitutes a reverse takeover.
United is paying US$16mln to acquire the Egyptian assets with the deal partially supported by a financing deal with BP, which will provide US$8mln, along with a share placing to investors and a US$5mln issue of equity to Rockhopper.