The Apache-led JV on Kenya’s Block L8 has spud their first well offshore the East African country. Partners in the JV are Apache, Pancontinental Oil & Gas, Tullow Oil, and Origin Energy.

The well was spud on the highly anticipated Mbawa Prospect which is estimated to contain up to 4.9 billion barrels of oil in place. The well is expected to be drilled to a total depth of 3,250 meters in a water depth of 864 meters and is being drilled by the Deepsea Metro 1 drillship. The well should take about 60 days to complete.

Any discovery made with the Mbawa well will aid in de-risking other prospects offshore Kenya.

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