Zenith maintains a 100% interest in the highly prospective El Bibane concession (located offshore), and a 100% interest in the Robbana concession (located onshore).
The El Bibane concession is located 16 kilometres offshore from the port of Zarzis in the Gulf of Gabes, covering an area of approximately 228 square kilometres and in approximately 7-8 meters water depth.
The field was discovered by Marathon Oil Corporation in 1982. However, it was not developed until 1998. Upon initial development, a peak production of 4,500 bopd was achieved. The reservoir is located in the cretaceous Zebbag fractured dolomite formation at approximately 2,150 metres below surface.
Zenith holds a 100% working interest in the El Bibane concession
A total of three wells remain active within El Bibane: EBB-5, EBB-4 and EBB-3RE2. A total of 6 wells plus 4 sidetracks have been drilled.
EBB-5 currently produces approximately 80-100 barrels of condensate per day (API 49/50) with 5.5-6 MMSCF of natural gas from well EBB-5, which is re-injected into the formation via well EBB-4.
It is expected that, by utilising new technologies, well EBB-4 may achieve commercial production of natural gas in addition to its current use as an injector well.
EBB-3 suffered string damage and has been temporarily shut-in, having previously produced at a rate of between approximately 500-600 barrels of oil per day (35 API) prior to production being suspended. The low oil price environment during 2020 and the material investment required to restore production from this well have prevented the necessary repair work from being implemented.
Zenith has already obtained market quotations for the well intervention required to restore production from well EBB-3 for an amount of approximately US$3.5 million.
In the event of a successful well intervention in EBB-3, the Company expects to produce approximately 500 barrels of oil equivalent per day from El Bibane.
Candax commissioned an independent reserves evaluation, as of December 31, 2019, for the contingent reserves (1C) of El Bibane which evaluated remaining oil in place as 25.7 MMSTBO and 6.5 BCF of natural gas.
Zenith has commissioned a new Competent Person’s Report, in compliance with Canadian securities laws, specifically the COGE Handbook and National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, in order to obtain an updated reserves evaluation for the El Bibane concession.
The Robbana concession, covering 48 square kilometres and located onshore in the island of Djerba in the southern Gulf of Gabes, was discovered in 1988, achieving a peak production of 500 bopd in 1994.
The ROB-1 well encountered two hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs in the Cretaceous Upper Meloussi Sandstone formation. Only two wells have been drilled in Robbana since discovery, ROB-1 which is still in production and ROB-2 which is temporarily abandoned.
Robbana currently produces approximately 25 barrels of oil per day from ROB-1, having previously produced approximately 50 barrels of oil per day prior to an unsuccessful well intervention.
Studies have suggested that an infill well, to be drilled in the proximity of well ROB-1, is expected to produce approximately 200 barrels of oil per day.
Candax commissioned an independent reserves evaluation, as of December 31, 2019, for the contingent reserves 1C of Robbana which evaluated remaining oil in place as 10.99 MMSTBO. The study noted specifically noted that the Middle Triassic sandstones of the Ras Hamra formation present a very significant high-risk high reward exploration objective.
Zenith has commissioned a new Competent Person’s Report, in compliance with Canadian securities laws, specifically the C OGE Handbook and National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, in order to obtain an updated reserves evaluation for Robbana.
Robbana expires on November 4, 2034.