ANKARA, Turkey, April 26 (UPI) -- A rapid oil appraisal program is under way in the Kurdish region of Iraq following a successful test of a second well, Genel Energy said.
Anglo-Turkish company Genel Energy announced its second test in the Chia Surkh 10 well yielded a sustained preliminary flow rate of 3,200 barrels of oil per day and 8.4 million cubic feet of natural gas.
The test confirms that Chia Surkh is a "significant oil discovery," Genel said. Early this month, the company said it reached a test rate of 11,950 barrels of oil per day from its first of five exploration wells in the Chia Surkh discovery area.
Genel Director of Exploration John Hurst said the second test in the Chia Surkh region gives the company reason for optimism.
"We will continue with our rapid appraisal and development program, including the first appraisal well now under way and will be evaluating and drilling a number of other prospects we have in the Chia Surkh license," he said in a statement.
The semiautonomous Kurdish government gave Genel permission in January to export crude oil to Turkey by road shipments. Genel is working to convert a natural gas pipeline to facilitate additional oil deliveries.
Oil flow through the 600-mile Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline was disrupted this week when militants attacked the pipeline in Iraq.
Export restrictions had been in place as a sign of growing frustration with the central Iraqi government over oil laws in the country.
