Libya's Abu Attifel Field Delivers 798 Barrels Daily after Maintenance

Maintenance work on a crude oil well at Libya's Abu Attifel field has increased daily oil production by 798 barrels after engineers restored and improved the facility, Libya's National Oil Corporation reported.

The A 24 well now produces 1,201 barrels of crude a day, up from 403 barrels before the work. Gas output also increased, showing how repairs to existing wells can quickly increase production without drilling a new one.

The work happened as Libya continues efforts to get more oil and gas from wells already in operation.

Repairing ageing facilities and improving well performance can increase supply and make better use of existing oil fields.

The result at Abu Attifel offers another example of how technical work can deliver higher output within a short period.

Maintenance work lifts oil and gas production

The National Oil Corporation said Mellitah Oil and Gas Company completed maintenance on the A 24 well at the Abu Attifel field, leading to a sharp increase in production.

The well now produces 1,201 barrels of crude oil per day. Before the maintenance programme, daily production stood at 403 barrels.

That represents an increase of about 198 per cent, with an extra 798 barrels produced every day.

Gas production also improved after the work. Daily output rose to 6.42 million standard cubic feet from 3.20 million standard cubic feet before the intervention.

The corporation said Mellitah's technical teams replaced completion equipment inside the well.

They also reperforated the producing formations to improve the flow of oil and gas from the reservoir.

After the repairs, engineers carried out production tests using the same 64 over 64 inch choke setting that had been used before the intervention. The tests showed that production stayed stable at the higher output level.

The National Oil Corporation also reported that water made up 7 per cent of the well's production during the tests.

The corporation said engineers will continue monitoring the well during the stabilisation period. The checks are intended to confirm that the higher production level can be maintained after the maintenance work.

The board of the National Oil Corporation praised the Libyan engineers and technicians who carried out the operation. It credited their technical work for the improvement recorded at the Abu Attifel well.

The board also said similar inspection, evaluation and maintenance programmes will continue on other wells. The aim is to improve the performance of existing facilities and increase Libya's oil and gas production through technical upgrades and routine maintenance.

The Abu Attifel result shows how work on existing infrastructure can produce immediate gains in both crude oil and natural gas output. By replacing worn equipment, improving the producing zones and confirming stable flow through testing, Mellitah Oil and Gas Company recorded higher production from a well that was already in service.

The National Oil Corporation said monitoring of the well will continue after the maintenance programme as engineers watch its performance during the stabilisation phase and verify that production stays at the improved level.