Offshore staff
LONDON– Ophir Energy has provided an update of exploration programs on its various blocks offshore East Africa.
On Tanzania block 1, additional seismic and petrophysical analysis has increased estimates of in-place resource gas at theUpper Cretaceous Mzia discovery to 4-9 tcf. Petrophysical studies continue to determine the recoverable resource potential.
Similar analyses continue on core and log data from theUpper Cretaceous Papa discovery in block 3.
Tertiary-age sands have been interpreted in a basin floor setting in block 1, apparently analogous to those seen to the south on the adjacentRovuma Delta offshore Mozambique. Sand fairways and basin floor depositional sequences have been identified within the Miocene to Paleocene stratigraphy which include large features with potential trapping geometries.
Drilling should re-start on block 1 in late September, initially focusing on step-out exploration and appraisal around the 3.4-tcf recoverable Jodari discovery. The aim is to confirm sufficient reserves for what could be Tanzania’s first LNG hub development.
Ophir currently estimates gross discovered in-place resources for blocks 1, 3, and 4 (all operated by BG Group) in the range 13.5-21 tcf (2.3-3.5 Bboe), potentially justifying a two-train LNG scheme.
Elsewhere, a 3D seismic program (up to 3,770 sq km, or 1,455 sq mi, in total) is in progress across Kenya offshore blocks L9, L15, and Tanzanian block 7.
Interpretation continues on the recently acquired Ndizi 3D survey (≈2,200 sq km/849 sq mi) over the Tanzania East Pande block.
To date, analysis of existing datasets has identified multiple plays and an un-risked prospect inventory of 36 tcf (7 Bboe) of gas and possibly liquids targets across these four blocks, all of which Ophir operates.
The company is aiming to bring in a partner ahead of a planned multi-well drilling campaign in 2013.
9/4/2012
