TANZANIA
THE KILAWANI NORTH-1 (KN-l) WELL has encountered what operator Aminex describes as substantial natural gas column, in offshore Tanzania’s Nyuni/East Songo- Songo license area. The fluid is in Lower Cretaceous sandstones, the same formation that produces gas commercially in the neighbouring SongoSongo gas field. Preliminary evaluation indicates a gas-water contact approximately 30 metres deeper than at the adjacent Songo-Songo Gas field. This indicates that the KN-1 discovery is in a separate structure to the Songo-Songo field, thus enhancing the prospectivity of the remaining leads and prospects within the Nyuni licence. Formation pressures confirm the presence of gas over a gross interval of approximately sixty metres. KN- 1 was drilled as a vertical hole to a depth of 2030 metres (6,687 ft), ahead of schedule. Electric logging has been completed. KN- 1 will now be completed as a gas production well pending hook-up for production and a test will be conducted to determine flow capacity and reservoir properties. Further appraisal drilling will be required to define the extent of this discovery. This is a positive outcome for the potential of other exploration prospects and leads in the Nyuni licence area. KN- 1 also encountered minor oil shows in the Neocomian reservoir section, as well as confirming the presence of potential reservoirs in the Tertiary section at an earlier stage in the well.
The Nyuni/East Songo-Songo licence is a component of Aminex’s acreage portfolio in East Africa, which includes the highly prospective Ruvuma Basin area of Tanzania as well as large acreage positions in Madagascar and Kenya, on all of which new seismic has now been acquired. Aminex is also currently participating in the Malak- 1 exploration well in the West Esh ElMeilahah concession in Egypt, which spudded on 25 February and is drilling ahead on schedule. “We are now seeing the first real fruits of our work on the East African margin over several years, says Aminex chairman Brian Hall. “Our exploration team has long believed in the potential of this area, both for oil and gas. KN-1 is a totally new, deep structure which opens up several avenues for further exploration on the licence and strengthens the case for oil on the East African margin. This frontier area, where we were an early pioneer, is now the subject of strong industry interest. Credit is due to our explorationists and operations personnel, as well as to our JV partners who have made a strong technical input to this project and to TPDC (Tanzanian national oil company) and the Tanzanian Ministry who have provided invaluable cooperation from the outset. ”Partners in the license are Ndovu Resources Ltd. (Aminex subsidiary and operator) 40%, RAK Gas Commission with 25%, Key Petroleum Ltd. holds 20%, East African Exploration Ltd. 10%, and the remaining 5% is held by Bounty Oil & Gas Ltd.
