Mozambique’s Kifaru-1 well plugged and abandoned after disappointment

Onshore Rovuma block operator through its joint venture partner Wentworth Resources that it has plugged and abandoned the Kifaru-1 well in Mozambique.

The well that begun drilling in mid January was drilled to a final total depth of 3,100 meters in Eocene age rocks encountering all targeted zones in the Miocene, Oligocene and Eocene formations but failed to find an economic reservoir and as a result the well has been plugged and abandoned.

According to Wentworth Managing Director Geoff Bury the partners will go ahead and evaluate the collected data so as to determine the way forward.

“Whilst the results from this well did not meet our expectations, we are working with Anadarko and our partners to evaluate all data collected to determine the next steps in the exploration phase of the onshore Rovuma block,” says Geoff.

Prior to the drilling of Kifaru-1 the partners had experienced tough luck in Mozambique’s Tembo-1 well which despite delays encountered only 11 meters of natural gas net pay before being also plugged and abandoned.

With the drilling of Kifaru-1 to the final total depth, the consortium led by Anadarko has satisfied all of its drilling obligations under the terms of the Exploration and Production Concession Contract for the Onshore Rovuma Block in Northern Mozambique.

Wentworth holds a 13.64% participation interest in exploration operations and an 11.59% participation interest in development and production operations of the Rovuma Onshore Concession in Mozambique. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is operator while other partners include Maurel et Prom, ENH and PTTEP.