British company Chariot Limited announced on Tuesday the commencement of drilling operations at the Anchois-3 well, located in the Anchois gas field off the coast of Larache, Morocco. This crucial step represents a significant advancement in the development of this promising gas project for the country.
The drilling ship, Stena Forth, is now on site to carry out these operations. The Anchois-3 well, previously known as Anchois East, is part of the Lixus Offshore license, which is jointly held by Chariot (30%), Energean (45%), and Morocco’s National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), which holds a 25% stake.
According to the company, the drilling and flow testing operations at Anchois-3 are expected to take around two months. Chariot will cover the projected costs of this drilling campaign, underscoring its commitment to the project’s success.
“We are thrilled to begin drilling this highly anticipated well at the Anchois gas field. We see significant growth potential and value in the prospective resources of both the pilot and main targets, which could increase the resource base to over 1 trillion cubic feet,” said Adonis Pouroulis, CEO of Chariot.
He added, “Should the results be successful, we look forward to moving towards a final investment decision as quickly as possible.”
It is worth recalling that in December 2023, Chariot partnered with Energean to develop the Lixus license. The agreement includes expanding the existing offshore development plan to potentially allow for much higher production levels and finalizing ongoing gas sales negotiations to prioritize Morocco’s energy needs.
