Tullow Oil could not sample the initial reservoir fluids in the light hydrocarbon shows encountered in a 55metre thick gross sandstone interval in the wildcat Paipai 1 well. More, “the hydrocarbons encountered.whilst drilling were not recovered to the surface”, the British explorer explained in an update on the well, drilled to a total depth of 4,255 metres in Block 10A, Marsabit Country, onshore Kenya. “The well has consequently been temporarily suspended pending agreement on future evaluation options”.
Paipai-1 had a lot riding on it. It was drilled to evaluate a large structural closure of Cretaceous age in the Anza Basin.
Although it has been frustrating to obtain samples, the company is not shy to declare that “the well has been has been successfully logged”. Tullow says: “This sandstone is overlain by a 200 metre thick source rock which forms an effective regional top seal. Several attempts to sample the initial reservoir fluids were unsuccessful and the hydrocarbons encountered whilst drilling were not recovered to surface”..
After suspension operations have been concluded at Paipai, the rig will move to the South Lokichar Basin in Block 10BB and drill the Etuko prospect in the undrilled basin flank play. The move is expected to take 3 months.
Tullow has a 50% operated interest in the Paipai-1 well, Block 10A, with Africa Oil holding 30% and Afren holding the remaining 20%.
Tullow says it is now carefully evaluating all the data and review the available technical options, which include possible flow testing and reservoir stimulation. “From a frontier exploration perspective, we can already conclude that this part of the Anza Basin has the makings of a viable Cretaceous hydrocarbon play”, says Angus McCoss, the company’s exploration director.. “Consequently, we will also be reviewing the follow-up Cretaceous prospects”
