Aminex Reports Resource Estimate increase in Tanzania’s Ntorya Appraisal area

Aminex has reported a material increase in its estimate of gas initially in place (GIIP) in the Ntorya appraisal area, Tanzania a component of the Ruvuma PSA operated by Aminex and which has been successfully tested by two gas wells.

Aminex says it now considers that the Ntorya appraisal area has Pmean GIIP of 466 Billion Cubic Feet (BCF), being a three-fold increase over the previous estimate of 153 BCF which was audited by LR Senergy in May 2015. The upgraded resource follows the drilling and testing of the Ntorya-2 appraisal well earlier this year which encountered a net pay zone of 31 metres and tested gas at an average flow rate of 17MMscd on a 40/64’ choke.

Highlights:

  • Pmean GIIP increase to 466 BCF from 153 BCF
  • P90 GIIP increase to 62 BCF from 31 BCF
  • P10 GIIP increase to 1.13 TCF from 332 BCF

“A tripling of resources in the Ntorya appraisal area is clearly excellent news for shareholders and partners and highlights that the Ruvuma PSA is a basin that is of national importance for Tanzania. We continue to work directly with the Government to gear the near-term work programme to fast track production to both local industry and ultimately into the national pipeline,” says CEO of Aminex, Jay Bhattacherjee.

The previous well, Ntorya-1, was tested at a rate of 20 mmscfd through a 1-inch choke.  Solo believes that higher flow rates can be achieved at Ntorya-2 during future production once the drilling induced formation damage is removed.

According to the interpretation of the wireline logs, Ntorya-2 encountered the equivalent reservoir section seen in the Ntorya-1 well at a depth approximately 74 metres shallower.   No formation water was produced during the tests.  The fluids recovered down-dip at Ntorya-1 showed a higher condensate-gas ratio and this suggests some fractionation of fluids with depth, further suggesting an extensive gas column is present with in the Ntorya gas-condensate accumulation.

Ntorya-2 also encountered traces of oil in the gross reservoir interval.  Aminex is currently updating the basin model in order to optimise future drilling to maximise the intersection with the reservoir section and to target potentially liquid hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in future wells, including Ntorya-3. Outside the Ntorya Appraisal Area LR Senergy estimated 3 tcf of gross mean undiscovered GIIP in the Ruvuma PSA and that remains to be further evaluated.

“The Ntorya-2 well, in conjunction with the existing well and seismic control, allow a new more confident and upgraded estimate of the gas in place and the associated contingent resources associated with the successful appraisal well,” commented Solo’s Chairman Neil Ritson.

Aminex is quick to clarify however that these management estimates cover the Ntorya appraisal area only and do not include the potential of the adjoining exploration acreage. The Company is currently updating its basin model in order to optimise the likelihood of intersecting the maximum stratigraphic reservoir sections and to target potentially liquid hydrocarbons bearing reservoirs in future wells, including Ntorya-3

Aminex is currently in the process of applying for a 25-year development licence and is working directly with the Tanzanian Government to fast-track gas production for the benefit of the Company’s shareholders and the Tanzanian national economy.

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