Oil and gas exploration company Sterling Energy is set to identify locations for its first wells in Madagascar as it completes part of its testing programme.
The company finished a 2D survey of the Ampasindava block, off the country’s north-west shores, in December last year and is currently analysing results, hoping to begin drilling by 2016.
Sterling holds a 30% interest in the licence, with ExxonMobil acting as the operator of the block with a 70% interest.
The company has also begun planning for a 3D seismic testing of its Ambilobe block for the second half of this year.
The costs of the testing are set to be covered by Sterling’s partner Pura Vida as part of a farm-out agreement from December 2013, which split the shares in the licence equally between the two companies.
“The new 2D seismic data acquired on Ampasindava will facilitate the planning for an exploration well which is expected to spud in 2015 /16,” said Alastair Beardsall, Sterling Energy’s executive chairman.
The more detailed 3D programme being planned for Ambilobe will focus on maturing some of the identified leads into potentially drill-ready prospects.”
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