10 September 2012 – Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces that the Mbawa-1 exploration well in the L8 license area, offshore Kenya, has encountered gas in the shallowest objective.
The Mbawa-1 exploration well has been drilled to a depth of 2,553 metres and has encountered approximately 52 metres of net gas pay in porous Cretaceous sandstones. The well will now be drilled to a total depth of 3,275 metres targeting further exploration objectives.
Apache (50%) is Operator of the offshore Block L8 Licence along with partners Origin Energy (20%), Pancontinental (15%) and Tullow (15%).
Commenting today, Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, said:
“A gas discovery on prognosis in the shallowest objective at Mbawa-1 is an encouraging start to our East African Transform Margin exploration campaign. This is the first hydrocarbon discovery offshore Kenya. The on-going drilling remains on course to test for any deeper oil potential within this gas prone region”.
