Project Profile
Location: Rhourde Yacoub
Area: 1,091 sq km
Production: 4.4 billion cubic metres of natural gas
Rhourde Yacoub is located in the gas and oil-prone Berkine Basin where exploration started in the 1990s. In the second half of 2008, E.ON Ruhrgas E&P took part in the first Algerian licensing round after new hydrocarbon law was introduced in 2005. In December 2008, E.ON Ruhrgas E&P won the bid for the Rhourde Yacoub licence which covers 1,091 square kilometres.
In 2009, E.ON Ruhrgas E&P produced 4.4 billion cubic metres of natural gas (at equity gas included). Production will increase significantly over the next years as more fields are brought on stream. Gazprom which is also working with Sonatrach in the Berkine Basin made its first oil and gas discovery in the region earlier this month. The hydrocarbon discovery came as a result of drilling the first exploratory well of Rhourde Sayah-2 (RSH-2) at Block 236b of El Assel license area in the basin. The areas of Rhourd Nouss and Berkine are basins with a complex geographic history (Palaeozoic and Mesozoic). They contain 19% of gas (mainly Rhourd Nouss) half of which is probable or possible and 8% of oil.
Operators:
E.ON Ruhrgas E&P: Operator with 49% interest
Sonatrach: 51% interest