By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 10 -- Network Exploration & Production Nigeria Ltd. has spud the Qua Ibo-3 well in undeveloped Qua Ibo field in southeastern Nigeria, said partner Mart Resources Inc., Calgary.

The directional well is projected to TD 9,900 ft, 7,400 ft true vertical depth, to appraise the D5 oil reservoir at a subsurface location between the existing Qua Ibo-2 and 2 wells.

Shell-BP discovered the field in 1960 and never placed it on production. Network was awarded the property in February 2003 in the Nigerian government's marginal field allocation program.

The new well is 1.5 km from ExxonMobil Corp.'s Qua Iboe oil export terminal, which will facilitate near-term production if the well succeeds, Mart Resources said.