A consortium of Sonatrach and Norway’s Statoil has made a gas discovery on the Hassi Mouina concessions, block 321b, in southwest Algeria north of Timimoun.

Tests yielded a gas flow rate of 2,515 cubic metres of gas an hour, at a depth of 1,305 metres. The discovery was made from an exploration well known as Temesselt-1, or TMS-1.

Sonatrach and Statoil will carry out delineation work to determine more precisely the extent of the discovery.

Two discoveries have already been made on the concession, from wells HTJW-1 and TNK-1, both drilled in 2007. The partners have been carrying out exploration on the acreage since 2006.

A number of other international companies are already working on development plans to bring tight gas discoveries in the Timimoun area to market, which is made difficult by a lack of pipeline infrastructure.

Energy minister Chakib Khelil announced in late 2007 that Algiers is planning to build a new pipeline to the area (MEED 3:12:07).

The scattered distribution of the gas finds to date means that it is likely that the discoveries will be aggregated in order to justify the costs associated with the new infrastructure (MEED 7:9:07).