Continental Focus, International Reach

NNPC Discovers Hydrocarbon Deposits in Gongola Basin-Upper Benue Trough

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recently announced the discovery of hydrocarbon deposits in the Kolmani River II Well on the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin, in the North-Eastern part of the country.

A press release by the Corporation’s Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Samson Makoji, stated that NNPC acquired 435.54 sq km of 3D seismic over the Kolmani Prospect in the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin. This was to evaluate Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company’s (SNEPCo) Kolmani River 1 Well Discovery of 33 BCF and explore deeper levels.

The well was drilled with the Ikenga Rig 101 to a total depth of 13,701 feet encountering oil and gas in several levels. A Drill Stem Test (DST) is currently on-going to confirm the commercial viability and flow of the Kolmani River reservoirs.

On October 10, one of the reservoirs was perforated and hydrocarbon started flowing to the well head in which the gas component was flared to prevent air charge around the rig. Preliminary reports indicate that the discovery consists of gas, condensate and light sweet oil of API gravity ranging from 38 to 41 found in stacked siliciclastic cretaceous reservoirs of Yolde, Bima Sandstone and Pre-Bima formations. Computation of hydrocarbon volume is on-going and will be announced in due course.

NNPC has also acquired an additional 1183 sq km of 3D seismic data over highly prospective areas of the Gongola Basin with a view to evaluating the full hydrocarbon potential of the Basin.

NNPC has deployed world class cutting-edge technologies including Surface Geochemistry, Ground Gravity/Magnetic, Stress Field Detection, Full Tensor Gradiometry aerial surveys to de-risk exploration in the frontier basins. The NNPC plans to drill additional wells for full evaluation of the hydrocarbon volume in the Gongola Basin.

The discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities in the Gongola Basin is hoped to attract foreign investment, generate employment in the community and increase government revenues.


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