Mixed luck for Tullow Oil, Africa Oil in Northern Kenya

Tullow Oil has reported more oil finds as well as a number of disappointments in its latest Kenya exploration and appraisal update that included the first wildcat exploration well in the Kerio basin.

In the first well drilled in the Kerio Basin, northeast of the successful South Lokichar Basin, Kodos-1 exploration wildcat in Block 10BB Tullow says hydrocarbon shows were encountered although reservoirs were of mixed quality alluvial sands close to the basin boundary fault at this well location.

Tullow reports that the Kodos-1 which reached a final depth of 2,500 metres and which was drilled by the Weatherford Rig-804 will now be plugged and abandoned.

Further drilling in the Kerio basin is now planned for 2015 with the Weatherford Rig-804 being moved to drill the second well in the basin at Epir-1, 25 km north of Kodos-1 in a separate sub-basin.

“The Kodos-1 well is the first test of the Kerio Basin and hydrocarbon shows provide encouragement, indicating the presence of an active petroleum system. The potential of the Kerio Basin remains highly prospective and the rig is now moving to drill the next well, Epir-1, in a sub-basin to the north of Kodos-1,” Exploration Director says Angus McCoss.

In the South Lokichar basin the Sakson PR-5 rig drilled the most southerly well drilled to date the Ekosowan-1 well 12 km south east and up-dip of the previous Amosing-1 oil discovery.

According to the update the well in Block 10BB extended the proven oil basin southwards encountering a 900 metre section of near continuous oil shows throughout an interval of tight faulted sands.

The Ekosowan area is located within the ongoing 3D seismic survey in the South Lokichar Basin, acquisition of which is expected to complete in December this year.

The well drilled to a final depth of 2,029 metres will also be plugged and abandoned with focus moving to the Engomo-1 wildcat well location, the first test of the North Turkana Basin using the new SMP-106 rig.

“We look forward to stepping out from Ekosowan towards the Amosing oil field in pursuit of better reservoirs,” adds McCoss.

Away from the disappointments the Ngamia-4 well in Block 10BB continued the successful appraisal of the Ngamia oil field encountering up to 120 metres of net hydrocarbon pay, of which up to 80 metres was oil.

Ngamia-4 well drilled 1.1 km west of the Ngamia-1 discovery well by the PR Marriott Rig-46 to a final depth of 1,814 metres has been suspended for use in future appraisal and development activities.

The rig will now drill the Ngamia-5 appraisal well which will help assess reservoir connectivity in the Ngamia field, the largest oil discovery to date in the South Lokichar Basin.

Tullow has also reported achieving the highest oil production rate seen to date in Kenya follows four flow tests on the Twiga-2A well in Block 13T which achieved production rates of between 150 and 3,270 bopd under natural flow with no depletion.

With optimised equipment Tullow adds the maximum flow potential from the best zone could have increased to around 10,000 bopd demonstrating excellent reservoir deliverability.

The SMP-5 rig which was working in Twiga-2A well will now move to the Amosing oil field to begin Extended Well Testing, where production and injection interference testing, involving the Amosing-1 and 2A wells, will help provide dynamic flow characterisation of the Amosing stacked reservoirs.

“We look forward to drilling basin opening wells both here and in the large North Turkana Basin. We continue to build certainty and resources in the main Ngamia / Amosing field areas and the data obtained from the 3D seismic and the Ekosowan well should allow us to expand this area further. Development planning, including the export pipeline, continues to move forward with the full support of the government of Kenya,” Keith Hill, Africa Oil CEO commented.

Tullow Operates Blocks 10BB and 13T with 50% equity and is partnered by Africa Oil Corporation, also with 50%.