BG Group is the latest operator hoping to strike oil in a doubted Kenyan offshore prospect as it prepares to drill the first wildcat well.
The Sunbird-1 exploration well, located in Block L10A, will be the first test of a Miocene pinnacle reef build-up in the Lamu Basin, offshore East Africa.
The drilling – a joint venture between BG and Pancontinental Oil & Gas – is set to begin between 9-12 January next year and is expected to take 50 to 60 days to reach a total depth of 3000 metres.
“The Sunbird Prospect is one of a number of Miocene Reefs that have never before been properly tested offshore East Africa,” said Barry Rushworth, chief executive of Pancontinental Oil & Gas.
“Miocene Reefs globally have a high record of success for oil and gas and they are often highly productive, due to high porosity and permeability.
“Pancontinental believes the inboard area of L10A is ‘oily’ and the joint venture… is looking to be the first group to make a first commercial oil discovery in a region that continues to have increasing attention from the industry majors.”
The company added it would be considering a second well later next year in either Block L10A or the adjacent L10B.
In the meantime, Premier Oil has today announced its withdrawal from Block L10A, where it held 20% interest, following an exploration review.
“Whilst we remain committed to exploration in Kenya, we continue to focus our resources on projects that meet our internal corporate investment metrics and to high grade our exploration portfolio accordingly,” said Simon Lockett, chief executive of Premier Oil.
The company retained its equity in the adjacent Block L10B and is due to decide on progressing the field’s development by mid-2014.
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