13th Jan 2009 07:00
13 January 2009
DRAGON OIL plc
("Dragon Oil" or the "Company")
Drilling Update
Dzheitune (Lam) L21/132 well on production and Rig 40 spuds its first well
Highlights
Development well Dzheitune (Lam) L21/132 tested at an initial rate of 916 barrels of oil per day ('bopd') Dragon Oil's own Rig 40 began drilling its first well, Dzheitune (Lam) L13/133, on 11 January 2009Dr Abdul Jaleel Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"I am pleased to announce the successful completion and initial testing of the Dzheitune (Lam) L21/132 development well. Although we did not reach our intended target intervals due to some abnormally high pressures, we were still able to complete this well in our secondary intervals, with the intent to deepen this well in the future to reach the main targets."
Drilling Details
Drilling of the Dzheitune (Lam) L21/132 well was stopped at 3,001 metres when it encountered pressures that were higher than expected. As a result, the well did not penetrate the main intended deeper intervals. The well was completed as a single completion over the secondary interval. It is envisaged that in the future the well will be deepened to penetrate the main target intervals. Initial testing of the secondary interval resulted in production rates of 916 bopd. Further testing and optimisation is scheduled to take place over the next few weeks.
Dragon Oil's own Rig 40 began drilling its first well, Dzheitune (Lam) L13/133, on 11 January 2009 on the Dzheitune (Lam) 13 platform.
The Iran Khazar rig is now undergoing planned maintenance, which is expected to be completed by the end of February 2009. At that time, the rig will relocate back to the Dzheitune (Lam) A platform to drill two additional wells.
The CIS 1 Rig completed the Dzheitune (Lam) L22/130 well in November 2008 and it is now currently being mobilised to Dzheitune (Lam) Platform 28.
A detailed update on Dragon Oil's performance will be given in its Trading Statement scheduled to be released on 20 January 2009 at 7:00am GMT.
Background Note
Dragon Oil Plc is an innovative international oil and gas development and production company, quoted on the London and Irish Stock exchanges (Ticker symbol: DGO). Its principal producing asset is in the Cheleken Contract Area, in the eastern section of the Caspian Sea, offshore Turkmenistan and recently acquired interests in Blocks 35, 49 and R2 (10%) in the Republic of Yemen.
Dragon Oil (Turkmenistan) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dragon Oil plc, holds a 100% interest in and is the operator of the Production Sharing Agreement for the Cheleken Contract Area in the Caspian Sea, offshore Turkmenistan. Operational focus is on the re-development of two oil producing fields, Dzheitune (Lam) and Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov).
www.dragonoil.com
For further information please contact:
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Martin Jackson
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Dragon Oil Plc (+971 4 305 3600)
Leanne Denman, Investor Relations Officer
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