Deeper Mbawa-1 Targets Offshore Kenya Unsuccesful

Tullow Oil plc announced that the Mbawa-1 exploration well in the L8 license area, offshore Kenya, has now been deepened and reached a total depth of 3151 meters.

As previously announced, the Mbawa-1 exploration well encountered approximately 52 meters of net gas pay in the primary target. However, the deeper, secondary target did not contain hydrocarbons. The operator is currently running wireline logs. On conclusion of this work, the well will be plugged and abandoned.

Apache (50%) is operator of the offshore Block L8 License along with partners Origin Energy (20%), Pancontinental (15%) ,and Tullow (15%).

Commenting, 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 and gives a clear demonstration of a working petroleum system. Although the deeper targets at this location were unsuccessful these results will be vital in evaluating the still significant prospectivity of this block."