Tullow considering further exploration in Kerio Basin

Tullow Oil has said it is considering further exploration activities in the North Kerio Basin in Kenya after the Epri-1 well was found to encounter oil and wet gas shows.

While not a discovery, the shows were over a 100 metre interval of non-reservoir quality rocks, demonstrating a working petroleum system in the lacustrine sub-basin.

The Weatherford 804 rig drilled the well to a final depth of 3,057 metres. Epri-1 is now to be plugged and abandoned and the rig moved to the Ekales-2 location in the South Lokichar Basin where it will conduct appraisal of the discovery made by the Ekales-1 well. Development studies for the South Lokichar Basin are also continuing, the firm said.

Elsewhere, Tullow's new SMP-106 rig has commenced drilling the Engomo-1 well, the first test of the prospective North Turkana Basin in Kenya Block 10BA. This onshore prospect is to the west of Lake Turkana where numerous naturally occurring oil slicks and seeps have been observed. A result is expected during early March.

Tullow said its Ngamia-5 well had discovered 160 to 200 metres of net oil pay while it encountered up to 135 metres in its Ngamia-6 well.

Meanwhile, the Amosing-3 well in Block 10BB continued the appraisal of the Amosing oil field The well was drilled approximately 1km northwest of the Amosing-1 discovery well and successfully encountered over 107 metres of net oil pay in good quality reservoir sands. The well has now been suspended for use in future appraisal and development activities. The PR Marriott 46 rig is now to be moved to continue the appraisal of the Ngamia field, drilling the Ngamia-7 well to test the field’s eastern flank.

Tullow operates three blocks in Kenya with a 50 per cent stake while Africa Oil holds the remaining 50 per cent.

“The Epir-1 wildcat well proved the existence of a working oil system in the North Kerio Basin, encouraging us to consider further exploration activities. The Ekales-2 exploratory appraisal well is a bold step-out away from the South Lokichar Basin bounding fault with follow up potential. Continued success in the appraisal of the Ngamia and Amosing oil fields is highly encouraging as we continue with development studies for the South Lokichar Basin,” said Angus McCoss, exploration director with Tullow.