Epir-1 exploration well in Kenya encounters oil, gas shows
Tullow Oil PLC encountered oil and wet gas shows over a 100-m interval of nonreservoir quality rocks—demonstrating a working petroleum system—by way of the Epir-1 exploration well on Block 10BB in the North Kerio basin of Kenya.
The company says further exploration activities will be considered in North Kerio following analysis and integration of data collected from the well.
The well was drilled to a final depth of 3,057 m by the Weatherford 804 drilling rig, which will now move to Ekales-2 in the South Lokichar basin where it will conduct appraisal of the discovery made by the Ekales-1 well (OGJ Online, Sept. 26, 2013).
Ekales-2 will target reservoirs in a separate fault block to the east of the discovery well, further away from the basin bounding fault.
“The Ekales-2 exploratory appraisal well is a bold step-out away from the South Lokichar basin bounding fault with follow up potential,” commented Angus McCoss, Tullow’s exploration director.
Elsewhere in Kenya
Exploration drilling has begun on the Engomo-1 well via the SMP-106 drilling rig, representing the first test of the prospective North Turkana basin on Block 10BA. The prospect lies west of Lake Turkana, where numerous naturally occurring oil slicks and seeps have been observed. Tullow expects results in early March.
The PR Marriott 46 drilling rig recently completed drilling the Ngamia-5, Ngamia-6, and Amosing-3 appraisal wells. Both Ngamia wells were drilled from the Ngamia-1 discovery well pad (OGJ Online, July 5, 2012).
Ngamia-5 was drilled to a final depth of 2,317 m and was deviated 500 m northeast of Ngamia-1, encountering 160-200 m of net oil pay.
Ngamia-6 was drilled to a final depth of 2,480 m and was deviated 800 m north of Ngamia-1, encountering up to 135 m of net oil pay. Both wells have been suspended and remain available for use in an extended well test program that will commence in this year’s second quarter.
The Amosing-3 well on Block 10BB continued the successful appraisal of the Amosing oil field, the company says. The well was drilled 1 km northwest of the Amosing-1 discovery well and encountered more than 107 m of net oil pay in good-quality reservoir sands (OGJ Online, Mar. 28, 2014).
The well reached a final depth of 2,403 m and has been suspended for use in future appraisal and development activities. The PR Marriott 46 drilling rig will now be moved to the Ngamia-7 well to test the field’s eastern flank.
Acquisition of the large 951-sq-km 3D seismic survey has been completed over the series of significant oil discoveries in the western basin bounding fault play of South Lokichar.
The fast-track processed data is already being used in the south of the basin while the remainder of the survey will be available for seismic interpretation by the end of the first quarter. Initial evaluation of the 3D seismic data indicates significantly improved structural and stratigraphic definition and additional prospectivity not evident on the previous 2D seismic data, the company says.
The partnership has also acquired more than 1,100 m of core samples from South Lokichar wells, and an extensive program of detailed core analysis is ongoing that will provide results from the first quarter 2015 onwards, to measure oil saturation and assess recovery factors of the reservoir sands.
Tullow Operates Blocks 10BB, 13T, and 10BA with 50% interest. Africa Oil Corp. holds the remaining interest.