Oil and gas firm Tullow Oil plc (TLW.L) announced the suspension of the Paipai-1 exploration well in Kenya for ongoing evaluation. The well, situated in the Marsabit County of Kenya Block 10A, has been drilled to a total depth of 4,255 metres and has been logged. The well was drilled to evaluate a large structural closure of Cretaceous age in the Anza Basin.
According to the company, light hydrocarbon shows were encountered while drilling a 55 metre thick gross sandstone interval. This sandstone is overlain by a 200 metre thick source rock which forms an effective regional top seal. Several attempts to sample the initial reservoir fluids were in vain and the hydrocarbons encountered while drilling were not recovered to surface, Tullow added. As a result, the well has been temporarily suspended pending agreement on future evaluation options.
Following the conclusion of suspension operations at Paipai, the rig would move to the South Lokichar Basin in Block 10BB and drill the Etuko prospect in the undrilled basin flank play. The move may take 3 months. Tullow has a 50% operated stake in the Paipai-1 well, Block 10A, with Africa Oil holding 30% and Afren holding the final 20%.
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