Tullow Oil Commences FTG Surveys Over Kenya’s Blocks 12A, 12B

Full-Tensor Gravity (FTG) surveys have commenced over Block 12B in the Nyanza Graben and Block 12A over the Kerio Basin.

The survey over Block 12B is expected to help gain further data on this prospective area where the operator Tullow Oil and Swala Energy have until 16th of August 2017 within which to drill the 12B exploration well.

The FTG survey follows the approval of a new work programme submitted by the explorers involving carrying out a Full-Tensor Gravity (“FTG”) Survey over the block to optimise the location of the exploration well and thereby maximise its chances of success in March 2016.

As per the earlier announcement by the joint venture FTG work would be carried out in conjunction with reprocessing of the 2014 seismic to improve the character of the sediment fill below the basalts, as demonstrated by Swala’s work late last year.

Earlier work identified the Ahero “A” prospect located on the northern margin of the Nyanza Graben and transected by five seismic lines as the first major structure that could potentially trap any migrating hydrocarbons from the basin.

The Ahero Lead A prospect has a 10.9mmstb estimate and an estimated 10 percent chance of success.

In Block 12A the Full-Tensor Gravity (FTG) survey is expected to provide further data on this prospective area where the operator Tullow Oil and partners Africa Oil, Delonex Energy and Maersk Oil earlier in the year drilled  the basin opening Cheptuket-1 well in the Kerio Valley Basin.

The operator reported that the well encountered good oil shows, seen in cuttings and rotary sidewall cores, across an interval of over 700 metres and post-well analysis is still in progress.