OREANDA-NEWS. October 5, 2011. OGX, the Brazilian oil and gas company responsible for the largest private-sector exploratory campaign in Brazil, announced that it has concluded the drill-stem test performed in the Santonian section of well 1-OGX-11D-SPS, in the BM-S-59 block within the shallow waters of the Santos Basin. OGX has a 100% interest in this block.

"The drill-stem test performed in the Natal accumulation was marked by significant flow rates and confirmed the existence of an important gas and condensate center in the region," commented Paulo Mendonca, General Executive and Exploration Officer of OGX.

Following the announcement of June 17, 2010, where the discovery of a 180 meter column with 75 meters of net pay in the Santonian section of the Natal accumulation was reported, a drill-stem test was performed in well OGX-11D. The test took place between September 21 and 27, 2011 and confirmed the presence of gas and the existence of condensate of approximately 47° API that should be responsible for more than 20% of the hydrocarbon volume of this structure.

The results of this test indicate a production potential of 1.0 million cubic meters of gas per day and 1,200 barrels per day of condensate in a vertical well, which could reach up to 5 million cubic meters of gas per day and 6,000 barrels of condensate through horizontal well.

Well OGX-11D, which is named Natal, is located in the BM-S-59 block and is situated approximately 84 kilometers off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro at a water depth of approximately 180 meters.