British Firm SDX Energy Begins Drilling in Morocco’s Gharb Basin

The SAK-1 well in Lalla Mimouna Sud is the first of a two-well campaign that will be carried out in the Gharb basin during the third quarter of this year, SDX Energy said in a statement. Three additional wells could be built in the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023, depending on the results of the third quarter campaign and customer demand.

"The objective of this well is to add reserves that will allow us to continue to supply gas to our customers, in accordance with their contractual requirements," said Mark Reid, CEO of SDX. And he added: "The success of SAK-1 would also open up a new exploration area to the west of our current production center, with several follow-up prospects already identified."

The British company started drilling on August 6, after obtaining authorization from the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) which holds 25% of the capital. The remaining 75% belong to SDX, which has exploration permits for four sites, all located in the Gharb basin in northern Morocco: Sebou Central, Lalla Mimouna Sud, Western Gharb and Moulay Bouchta Quest.

The Lalla Mimouna Sud permit covers an area of 857 km2, of which just over 50 km2 are covered by 3D seismic. Future discoveries will be connected to the existing gas sales line in the Kenitra industrial zone. The Lalla Mimouna Sud exploration concession was granted to SDX for a period of eight years with a commitment to drill an exploration well during the first three-year period.