The first oil flows from the Ruvuma Basin well in Tanzania has been delivering promising results, operator Solo Oil has revealed.
The Ntorya-1 well, drilled in 2012, flowed the equivalent of over 3,000 barrels of oil per day and produced condensate at the rate of 139 barrels per day.
Testing also identified a 25metre sandstone interval, estimated to hold a gross volume of 178billion cubic feet and an additional 1trillion cubic feet of unrisked potential gas in place.
The gas is planned to be sold via a pipeline between Mtwara to Dar es Salaam, following negotiations with the Tanzanian authorities.
Solo Oil, which holds a 25% stake in the field, said it is carrying out farm-out discussions with potential partners for further exploration of the block.
“Whilst progress towards the eventual commercialisation of the Ruvuma PSA has been slightly slower than we previously envisaged, we remain enthusiastic about the eventual outcome,” said Neil Ritson, Solo Oil executive director.
“The Ruvuma Basin has been one of the most active exploration areas for gas in East Africa in recent years and the commercialisation of gas is now underway.
“A clearer pathway to monetisation is also attracting new potential partners and we hope to have positive progress to report over the coming months.”