Tullow Oil Discovers Oil at Etom-2 Well in Northern Kenya

Tullow Oil Discovers Oil at Etom-2 Well in Northern Kenya

Tullow Oil plc announced Tuesday that the Etom-2 well in Block 13T, Northern Kenya, has encountered 334 feet of net oil pay in two columns.

Drilled by the PR Marriott 46 rig to a final depth of 5,429 feet, the well’s objective was to explore the Etom structure in an untested fault block identified by recent 3D seismic. Oil samples, sidewall cores and wire line logging all indicate the presence of high API oil in the best quality reservoir encountered in the South Lokichar Basin to date, according to a Tullow statement. Additional prospectivity identified on the 3D seismic in the north of the basin, including the Erut and Elim prospects, will now be considered as part of a future exploration drilling program.

Angus McCoss, Tullow Oil plc exploration director, commented in a company statement: “We are delighted with the Etom-2 well which encountered over 328 feet of net oil play in the best reservoirs in the basin so far. Discovering this thick interval of high quality oil reservoirs further underpins our development options and resource base. The result follows careful evaluation of 3D seismic data which was shot after the Etom-1 well and demonstrates how we have improved our understanding of the South Lokichar Basin. This result also suggests significant potential in this underexplored part of the block as it is the most northerly well we have drilled in South Lokichar and is located close to the axis of the basin away from the basin-bounding fault. Accordingly, we will review the potential of the greater Etom area and neighbouring prospects to decide on our forward program.”

The PR Marriott 46 rig will now move to Block 12A where it will spud the Cheptuket-1 well around year end. This will be the first well to be drilled in the Kerio Valley Basin. Tullow operates block 13T with 50 percent equity interest and is partnered by Africa Oil Corporation, which holds the remaining 50 percent interest.