Genel Energy to impair Sarta asset after drilling results

Genel Energy on Tuesday said it would have to impair its Sarta asset after drilling results fell short of expectations.

The company has a 30% stake in the Kurdistan field, while Chevron has 50%. Drilling at the Lower Jurassic level, target of the well’s primary objectives, flowed only formation water.

Genel said it would assess the longer-term development and monetisation opportunities of these heavy oil resources, as part of the field’s joint venture.

However, it warned that it would invest cash in the licence only if it had confidence that this would generate returns. The field averaged 4,000 barrels of oil per day in the quarter.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com