A Tullow exploration site in Turkana. The firm has discovered deposits of natural gas at a well in northern Kenya. Photo/File
What you need to know:
The deposits were struck at 4,100 metres, less than a kilometre to the target depth of 4,900 metres at the Pai Pai 1 well in Block 10 A.
The block is half owned by Tullow, 30 per cent by Africa Oil and the rest by Afren Plc.
Tullow Oil has discovered deposits of natural gas at a well in northern Kenya, whose drilling is set to be completed later this month.
The deposits were struck at 4,100 metres, less than a kilometre to the target depth of 4,900 metres at the Pai Pai 1 well in Block 10 A. The block is half owned by Tullow, 30 per cent by Africa Oil and the rest by Afren Plc.
“They are now testing to see output at that high pressure,” said an official conversant with the progress.
Tullow declined to comment on the status of its operations in Kenya.
“It’s still status quo, nothing has changed since the last update given. The well is still drilling,” said Evelyne Serro, Tullow’s communications officer for Kenya. “You will receive an update as soon as this is concluded at total depth”.
Industry analyst George Wachira said commercial natural gas deposits interrupt the momentum in the continued search and testing at the Twiga 1 , Ngamia 1 well and also the Mbawa natural gas prospect off the coast of Lamu.
“Finding of gas also delays commercial confirmation of already discovered oil which, hopefully, the drilling of “Sabisa-1” in Ethiopia will help to confirm,” he added.
Kenya is working on laws for exploration, production, logistics and monetisation of natural gas.
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