Gulfsands Petroleum has confirmed the construction of its Khubert East Early Production facility in the north of Syria has been completed ahead of schedule.

Coming just five months after approval was granted for the development of the site, which is located in Block 26 of the region, the company now expects oil production at the plant to begin at the start of August.

In addition, a number of tie-in wells, namely the KHE-4, KHE-5H and KHE-6H wells, are likely to be brought into operation over the course of the following weeks, enabling the site to reach its predicted output potential of 10,000 barrels per day.

Under the terms of the production sharing contract signed for the Khubert East facility, Gulfsands will act as joint operating company alongside the Dijla Petroleum Company, which is partly owned by the Syria Petroleum Company.

Commenting on the development, Andrew West, Chairman of Gulfsands, said: "The Government of Syria and Syria Petroleum Company have worked tirelessly with Gulfsands in bringing into production this important new oil field which, after completion of the Full Field Development contemplated to commence in early 2009, should provide a significant boost to Syria's oil production by 2010.

"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Syrian government and SPC on their co-operation with our technical teams and valuable contribution to the successful completion of the Early Production Facility ahead of schedule."