Petroleum Africa
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Friday, December 6, 2013
Partners on Tanzania’s offshore Block 2, Statoil and ExxonMobil, have made a new natural gas discovery with the drilling of their latest well. The well, the Mronge-1, gave the partners an additional 2-3 Tcf of gas in place and marks the partners’ fifth discovery on the block.
The Mronge-1 well discovered gas at two separate levels. The main accumulation is at the same stratigraphic level as proven in the Zafarani-1 well in Block 2. The Zafarani-1 discovery was made in 2012 and was a play opener for the block. The secondary accumulation was encountered in a separate, younger gas-bearing reservoir, in a play which previously has not been tested in Block 2.
Mronge-1 was drilled at 2,500 meter water depth using the drillship Discoverer Americas and is located 20 km north of the Zafarani discovery.
“We have initiated a new and ambitious drilling campaign offshore Tanzania following four successful discoveries during the first drilling phase. The Mronge-1 well discovered additional gas volumes and furthers the potential for a natural gas development in Tanzania. The new drilling program also allows us to fully explore the remaining exploration potential in Block 2,” says Nick Maden, senior VP for Statoil’s exploration activities in the Western hemisphere.
The Mronge-1 follows three successful high-impact gas discoveries during the first drilling phase with Tangawizi-1, Zafarani-1, and Lavani-1, and a deeper discovery in a separate reservoir in Lavani-2.
“These are high value resources. The attractiveness is also demonstrated by a recent asset transaction in the neighboring block. The discoveries also demonstrate how Statoil’s strategy of focusing on high-impact opportunities is paying off and supports the company’s ambition for international growth,” Maden says.
The Statoil-operated partnership started its new drilling campaign in Block 2 in September 2013. In addition to Mronge-1, the campaign includes drilling of several new prospects and appraisal of previous discoveries. Following Mronge-1, the partnership is scheduled to appraise the 2012 Zafarani discovery.
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