Completion operations at the BHN-1 exploration well on the Bouhajla permit in northeastern Tunisia are ongoing, despite setbacks related to complications associated with the acid injection program, Africa Hydrocarbons Inc. said in a news release.

The company experienced difficulties injecting acid into the Abiod formation as planned, which would ordinarily have improved potential hydrocarbon access from the formation into the wellbore. An acid injection such as this is a typical completion method used within fractured carbonate formations such as the Abiod, the release said.

The operator, DualEx Energy International Inc., is currently exploring a variety of possible explanations for the difficulties associated with accessing the formation, including, but not limited to, failed or inadequate perforation charges, an improper perforation method, and complications related to the amount of pressure applied to the acid injection, according to the release.

In order to determine possible causes of the failed acid injection, the company plans to utilize a borehole imaging tool that will assist in determining if an adequate number of perforations exist, thereby allowing sufficient penetration through casing, cement and into the rock formation. The results produced by the borehole imaging tool will, along with other data, be considered when planning subsequent operations. At such time as the necessary equipment is brought in and operations have been finished, the company said it will provide additional information. It is expected that the next stage of operations on the well will take up to 30 days.

At this time, the company believes the Abiod formation remains unevaluated with unchanged potential for yielding a producing well at BHN-1.