SDX Energy Inc. has discovered gas at its Ibn Yunus-1X exploration well at South Disouq, Egypt (SDX 55% working interest and operator), the company said on April 12.

The Ibn Yunus-1X well was drilled to a total depth of 9,068 ft (2,764 m) and encountered 100.8 ft (30.7 m) of net conventional natural gas pay in the Abu Madi horizon, which had an average porosity in the pay section of 28.5%. The well came in on prognosis, but with a reservoir section that was of better quality and thicker than pre-drill expectations.

“Combined, these two successful wells confirm our views of the subsurface geology and demonstrate that we are on course to realize the full potential of the license,” Paul Welch, SDX’s president and CEO, said.

The well will be completed as a producer in the Abu Madi section and then tested after the drilling rig has moved off location. The testing is anticipated to commence between 30 days and 45 days after the rig departs, depending on the availability of testing equipment.

After a successful test, it is anticipated that the well will be connected to the infrastructure located adjacent to the original SDX discovery in the basin, SD-1X, where production start-up is anticipated in the second half of 2018.