Page 58: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jul/Aug 2014)

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BG Group used Odfell’s

In July 2012, PTT E&P Thailand agreed

Deepsea Metro I drillship for to a $1.93billion acquisition of Cove the Sunbird-1 in Block L10A

Energy, which had interests in several this year. Photo from BG Group. blocks offshore Kenya.

Marathon and Union drilled In 2012, Fugro-Geoteam AS completed the offshore Maridadi-1 well the Kifaru 3D seismic survey including

East Africa to 4198m TD with gas shows 778sq km over Block L6 for FAR Ltd. and in the Tertiary, and in 1985, Pancontinental. Fugro’s Geo Caribbean drilled the offshore Kofa-1 seismic vessel stopped in Cape Town in well to 3629m TD, with oil May 2012.

and gas shows.

Discoveries

A Lamu basin study 1991- 1995 led Kenya to subdivide Working oil and gas systems were only the Lamu embayment (both recently proven offshore Kenya, begin- onshore and offshore) into 10 ning with the Mbawa-1 well on the exploration blocks and then western side of Block L8. The well add two more after 2001. reached 2553m in September 2012 and

Between 2000-2002, encountered 51.8m net gas pay in porous seven production sharing Cretaceous sandstones. It was then agreements were signed for drilled further to 3275m TD. Apache offshore Lamu basin blocks Corp. operates the license (50%) on

L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, L10, and behalf of partners Origin Energy (20%),

L11. In 2003, Australia’s Pancontinental (15%), and Tullow (15%).

Woodside Petroleum Apache’s Exploration Director Angus acquired 7884 km of 2D seis- McCoss said at the time: “A gas discovery mic data covering the seven on prognosis in the shallowest objective

Kenyan explorers licensed blocks as well as at Mbawa-1 is an encouraging start to our

Block L12. Woodside then East African transform margin explora- drilled the deepest offshore tion campaign.” However, the fnd was look deeper offshore well in 2006. not commercial, although Apache said

Anadarko acquired 5000 it would keep the option to re-enter the

By Nina Rach line-km of 2D seismic data over offshore In 1971, BP and Shell drilled the well open. blocks L5, L7, L12, L11A and L11B, fol- Pate-1 well south of the Dodori well, In April 2013, Anadarko announced lowed by 3D seismic. in the L5 area, to 4188m TD, reaching ffshore East Africa is among that its Kubwa well in Block L7 was not

By December 2009, Origin Energy Eocene sediments with gas shows. It the newest frontier exploration commercial.

O acquired 900sq km of 3D seismic over fowed at 12.7mcf/d. regions, with results of wildcats The company’s Senior Vice President

Block L8, using M/V Seisquest to tow In the same year, they drilled the eagerly awaited. The area still lacks infra- for worldwide exploration Bob Daniels eight streamers, 5100m long. Kipini well to the south, close to the structure to support meaningful develop- said, “The Kubwa well tested multiple

Afren, through its subsidiary EAX, coast in the nearby L-6 area, to 3663m ment and logistics remain a challenge play concepts and provided useful data acquired 460km of shallow-water and TD. It reached the Campanian section, to all comers. The activity has spread regarding the prospectivity of our six- transition-zone 2D seismic over Blocks with fuorescence and gas shows in beyond the shores of Kenya, Tanzania, million-acre position offshore Kenya.”

L17 and L18, completed in October 2010. Tertiary and Cretaceous section. Mozambique, reaching Madagascar, the In October 2013, Apache relinquished

In 2011-2012, Ophir Energy acquired In 1978, France’s Total drilled the Comoros, and the Seychelles. its 50% stake in the L8 block, saying

Dominion Petroleum for £118m offshore Simba-1 well to 3604m TD, with All of Kenya’s offshore blocks are in that gas volumes were not commercially (US$186million). wet gas shows (C -C ) in the Tertiary. the Lamu basin, which formed during viable.

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In November 2011, BG began acquiring In 1982, a consortium of Cities Services, the separation of Madagascar from Africa Likewise, in December 2013, Britain’s 3D seismic data in license areas L10A and has Middle to Late Jurassic source Premier Oil announced that it was with- and L10B, followed by a 2D seismic sur- rocks. The exploration focused in the drawing from Block L10A and relin- vey over the western area of the blocks Lamu basin follows a successful trend quishing its 20% stake in the license. (the Sunbird area). from Mozambique and Tanzania. Small However, Premier retained its 25% share

In January 2012, Afren (EAX) com- independent operators are surrounded in neighboring Block L10B.

pleted acquisition of 1207km of 2D data by majors, leading to interesting industry Pancontinental announced a small in the deeper water portions of Blocks partnerships and strategic opportunities gas discovery in Block L8 in December.

L17 and L18. In December 2012, it com- for companies large and small. Pancontinental’s fnance director Ernest pleted acquisition of 1006sq km of 3D Myers said, “The well on its own may

Years of activity data (in lieu of a well commitment), and not currently be commercially viable, but the 3D was processed by July 2013. In 1964, BP and Shell drilled the onshore could be when aggregated with other gas

In June 2012, Total signed a PSC for Dodori-1 well to 4311m TD very close to discoveries which may occur in the L8 or 100% of offshore license Block L22, with the coast. The well reached Campanian nearby blocks.”

Out-going KPA Chairman Shukri water depths of 2000m to 3500m. The rocks in the late Cretaceous section, On 6 January 2014, Pancontinental

Baramadi (at right) congratulates frst phase of exploration is 3D seismic with oil and gas shows in Tertiary and and BG spud the Sunbird-1 well with incoming Chairman Danson Mungatana (at left). Photo from Kenya Ports Authority.

acquisition. Cretaceous. This well fowed at 3.1mcf/d. the Deepsea Metro-I drillship in 723m

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