Tethys Oil and partner Aladdin Middle East Ltd (?Aladdin?) have commenced operations on the Kocetepe-1 exploration wellsite in license 3784 in Southeastern Turkey. The wellsite and drilling pad for the exploration well Koctepe-1 have been completed. This work included building an access road, levelling the location, digging a mud pit and lining with impermeable material, enclosing site with a fence, and making a cement pad for the drilling rig (see pictures on company web site). During the next week mobilization of the drilling rig will commence. Other drilling materials, including casing (steel pipes), are in transit by truck from Germany.
Spudding is expected on or about July 1st. The well is designed to test the Hoto prospect, which lies within a trend of producing oil fields in the Diyarbakir region (see map). Objective targets are the same limestone reservoirs of the Cretaceous Karababa and Derdere formations that produce in the nearby oil fields such as Kurkan. These reservoirs are expected to be encountered at depths starting at around 1,510 meters. Total drilling depth of the well is expected to be 1,680 meters. It will take an estimated 35 days to drill to total depth. Thereafter electric logs will be run and if results are positive a production test will be carried out. Tethys Oil will have 45 percent interest in the license after completion of the well and Aladdin 55 percent. Aladdin is the operator.