Kenya’s Sala-2 appraisal well set to spud in Q3

Marathon oil has announced that the Sala-2 appraisal well in block 9 will spud in the third quarter of 2014.

This follows the success of Sala-1 exploration well, which is in the eastern side of block 9, realized the biggest natural gas discovery.

The well which was drilled to a total depth of approximately 10,000 feet and analysis indicated three zones of interest over a 3,280-foot gross interval which were subsequently drill-stem tested.

The government through energy cabinet secretary Davis Chirchir is on record saying that the gas discovered in the Sala-1well is over 1Tcf although there has been no formal declaration from either Marathon or its partner Africa well.

Marathon Oil holds a 50 percent non-operated working interest in Block 9 with the option to operate any commercial development.

Africa Oil in the announcement reported that Sala-1 encountered an upper gas-bearing interval where they tested dry gas at a maximum rate of six million cubic feet per day from a 25-metre net pay interval.

The operator Africa Oil on the same time said that the company, its partner and the government were still discussing the probability of an appraisal well that would offer a clear picture of gas reserves on the block.

“Plans being discussed include an up-dip location to confirm the areal extent of the gas zones tested where the full net sand interval can be intersected above the gas-water contact.  The partnership is also considering a down-dip appraisal location to test an on-lapping stratigraphic wedge on the flanks of the structure which is of the same age as the zones in the nearby Ndovu-1 well which had oil and gas shows,” Africa Oil said in a statement.

Africa Oil also said it was considering drilling an appraisal well on the crest of the large Bogal structure to confirm the large potential gas discovery which is estimated to have closure over an area of up to 200 square kilometers.

The gross best estimate of prospective resources for Bogal are 1.8 trillion cubic feet of gas based on a third-party independent resource assessment.  Africa Oil currently has  two optional slots on the Great Wall drilling rig used to drill the Sala-1 well that are available for this appraisal program.

The Sala-1 discovery was particularly important as it significantly derisked the Anza basin.