Statoil makes another natural gas find offshore Tanzania

Statoil ASA and ExxonMobil Corp. have made their fifth natural gas discovery on Block 2 offshore Tanzania amounting to an additional 2-3 tcf.

The discovery was made with the Mronge-1 well, drilled by the Discoverer Americas drillship about 20 km north of the Zafarani discovery in 2,500 m of water.

The Mronge-1 well discovered gas at two separate levels, with the primary accumulation at the same stratigraphic level as proven in the Zafarani-1 well on Block 2, and the secondary accumulation in a separate, younger gas-bearing reservoir in a play that has not been tested on Block 2.

In September, the partners started their Block 2 drilling campaign, which included drilling several prospects and appraisals of previous discoveries. The partners are scheduled to appraise the 2012 Zafarani discovery following Mronge-1.

Statoil said the Mronge-1 discovery was preceded by three “successful, high-impact” gas discoveries in the first drilling phase with Tangawizi-1 (OGJ Online, Mar. 18, 2013), Zafarani-1, and Lavani-1 (OGJ Online, June 14, 2012), and a deeper discovery in a separate reservoir in Lavani-2 (OGJ Online, Dec. 22. 2012).

Statoil now estimates the total Block 2 in-place volumes at 17-20 tcf. Helge Lund, Statoil’s chief executive officer, previously said the company is looking into possible LNG projects as a result of its offshore Tanzania discoveries (OGJ Online, Oct. 8, 2013).

Statoil, in Tanzania since 2007, operates the license on Block 2 on behalf of Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. with 65% working interest. ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Tanzania Ltd. owns the remaining 35% (OGJ Online, Mar. 31, 2010).