Exploration firm Tullow Oil has found gas at its well off the coast of Kenya.

The company said its Mbawa-1 exploration well in the L8 licence area, offshore Kenya, has encountered 52 metres of net gas pay, which refers to the thickness of the reservoir. The well will now be drilled to 3,275 metres.

Tullow has a 15 per cent share in the Block L8 licence, with operator Apache taking a 50 per cent share, Origin Energy with 20 per cent and Pancontinental 15 per cent.

"A gas discovery on prognosis in the shallowest objective at Mbawa-1 is an encouraging start to our East African Transform Margin exploration campaign," exploration director Angus McCoss said. "This is the first hydrocarbon discovery offshore Kenya. The on-going drilling remains on course to test for any deeper oil potential within this gas prone region."