Prolific new Libyan fields poised for production

Idris Field, Libya's newest, will come on production probably next week at an initial rate of 150,000 bpd. By the end of March, production will be running 375,000 bpd, and by the end of May capacity will be up to 600,000 bpd. Occidental Petroleum Corp. last week was completing testing of its 135-mile 40-in. crude line and pulling the first tanker's arrival at its Zuetina terminal on the Gulf of Sirte. From now until the end of the year, crews will be busy drilling wells, laying pipe, erecting tankage, pulling more sea-loading lines, and building capacity of the system to more than 1 million bpd. A sixth rig was scheduled to arrive by the end of January, giving Occidental 5 to drill development wells and another for wildcatting. The company expects to complete 50 or more wells this year, with an average drilling time of 45 days per well. Last week Occidental was running 4 rigs in Idris Field and, with the fifth, was drilling the E-1 wildcat, 17 miles S.-SE. of Idris field.