Tullow Oil receives mixed results at Kenya’s Block 10BB, 13T wells

Tullow Oil has announced the results of a series of recent exploration and appraisal activities conducted by the four rigs currently operating in Blocks 10BB and 13T onshore Kenya.

The Emong-1 exploration well in Block 13T was drilled to test a structure directly across the main basin bounding fault, which is juxtaposed against the material oil accumulation discovered by the Ngamia-1 well, approximately four kilometres to the southeast.

The well encountered poorly developed oil bearing reservoir sands at this location. The result suggests that the main basin bounding fault controls the distribution of reservoirs in this area and has no impact on the potential of the Ngamia oil accumulation.

The Weatherford 804 rig drilled Emong-1 to a final depth of 1,394 metres. The rig will now be moved to drill the Ekunyuk-1 wildcat in the east of the licence as a further test of the rift flank play, where discoveries were recently made at Etuko and Ewoi.

The Sakson PR-5 rig is continuing drilling operations on the Twiga South-2 up-dip appraisal well which is expected to be completed in mid-April. This rig will then move to drill a down-dip appraisal of the Amosing discovery, which appears to have high quality reservoir and may be one of the largest discoveries in the basin to date.

Following the successful drill stem test of the Etuko-1 well in Block 10BB, which flowed at a combined rate of 550 boepd, the PR Marriott rig remained on location to drill the Etuko-2 well. This well was designed to evaluate a very shallow reservoir zone penetrated in Etuko-1 but which could not be properly logged due to the wide gauge of the original well. The rig drilled Etuko-2 to a final depth of 650 metres and the well flowed water with oil shows. The rig will now move to drill the Ngamia-2 well to appraise the Ngamia discovery.

“The early exploration, appraisal and testing activities onshore Kenya are giving us significant technical and operational insights for further optimising and accelerating the development of the basin. Our focus remains on continuing to explore and appraise our first successful basin, as well as stepping out into several untested basins, which together form a chain of prospective basins that have the potential to become a transformational new oil province.” Said Exploration Director at Tullow Oil plc Angus McCoss.

The SMP-5 rig, contracted to conduct a series of drill stem tests on the discoveries in northern Kenya, conducted a drill stem test on the Ekales-1 oil discovery well in Block 13T and successfully flowed over 1,000 barrels of oil per day. The rig will now move to conduct a drill stem test on the Agete-1 discovery well, also in Block 13T.

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