Tullow Oil, Partners plan up to four basin openers in Northern Kenya next year

Block 10BB and 13T operator Tullow Oil together with JV partner Maersk Oil and Africa Oil will drill up to four new basin openers in the South Lokichar and the Turkana Lake Basin’ in 2016 according to a presentation by the latter to investors.

Among prospects on the pipeline according to the Africa Oil document include Tulya, Thilli, Linga or Lukwa in South Kerio Block 10BB the and the North Samaki Prospect the first test of the ‘Turkana Lake Basin’  in Block 10BA.

The South Kerio basin in Block 10BB is separated from Central, North Kerio Basins by strike slip faults and could share same source rocks as South Lokichar while the North Samaki prospect could de-risk a large number of prospects onshore and offshore Lake Turkana.

Currently Africa Oil and Block 13T operator Tullow Oil are in the process of drilling the Etom 2 appraisal well after the Etom discovery which encountered 10-20m net pay of oil recovered from thick reservoir section (400 meters +) with oil staining throughout derisks large prospective area.

Following the Etom 2 drilling will proceed to the Cheptuket well a basin opener in Block 12A expected to spud in Early 2016.

Earlier this month the explorers experienced tough luck at the North Lokichar basin opener Emesek (Tausi) prospect in Block 13T which failed to encounter any hydrocarbons.

In Ethiopia’s Lakes Abaya-Chamo (Rift Basin Block)  Africa Oil says expects to drill in 2-3 years. To date 603 km of 2D seismic has been acquired confirming rift basin structures and possible Down Hole Interface (DHI’s).