Africa Oil: Kenya operations update

Exploration and Appraisal (Blocks 10BB and 13T)

The 2017 exploration and appraisal drilling campaign concluded following the drilling of the Amosing-7 appraisal well. The PR Marriott Rig-46 has been demobilised. Two discoveries were made during the campaign.

In January 2017, the Erut-1 well resulted in a discovery, proving that oil has migrated to the northern limit of the South Lokichar basin. The second discovery was made during May 2017, at Emekuya-1, encountering significant oil sands, demonstrating oil charge across an extensive part of the Greater Etom structure and further de-risking the northern area of the basin.

The Etiir-1 exploration well, which targeted a large, shallow, structural closure immediately to the west of the Greater Etom structure, spudded in late June and was unsuccessful with no material reservoir development or shows encountered. Although dry, drilling results will be utilised in defining the westerly extent of the Greater Etom Structure. The Etiir-1 well has been plugged and abandoned.

The Ekales-3 well was drilled to a total measured depth of 2721 m. The well targeted an undrilled fault block adjacent to the Ekales field. While reservoir and oil shows were encountered, and oil sampled, the well was deemed non-commercial.

Multiple appraisal wells have been drilled in the Ngamia, Amosing and Etom fields during 2017: Ngamia-10 (65 m of net oil pay), Amosing-6 (35 m of net oil and gas pay), Amosing 7 (25 m of net oil and gas pay) and Etom-3 (25 m of net oil and gas pay)). An extensive wireline evaluation program, including sampling has been undertaken on all appraisal wells. The Ngamia-10, Amosing-6 and 7 and Etom-3 wells have all improved the definition of the limits of their respective fields. However, the presence of rift edge facies has limited their net pay. These drilling results will be incorporated into the geological models that will be utilised for potential fields development plans.

The Auwerwer and Lokone reservoirs in the Etom-2 well were tested utilising artificial lift and flowed at 752 bpd and 580 bpd respectively which was lower than anticipated. As a result, the Joint Venture Partners will undertake further technical work to assess how representative the tests may have been and identify potential options to increase flow rates from the Etom field.

Activity will now move to focus on collecting dynamic field data through extended production and water injection testing. The Ngamia-11 appraisal well (143 m of net oil pay) has been completed and will be utilised in a waterflood pilot test planned for the first half of 2018. The waterflood pilot will include the previously drilled Ngamia 3, 6 and 8 wells. This pilot is designed to deliver a long-term assessment of the rate of enhanced oil recovery that may be expected as a result of water injection. The waterflood pilot follows up the successful water injection testing program which was completed during the first half of 2017 on the Ngamia and Amosing fields. Additionally, the partnership aims to initiate extended well testing on wells in the Amosing and Ngamia fields, commencing in the first quarter of 2018. Produced oil from testing will be stored and is planned to be transported as part of the Early Oil Production Scheme (EOPS). This scheme will initially entail the evacuation of stored crude oil to Mombasa by road, and first production from EOPS is now expected to commence in the first half of 2018, subject to receiving the necessary consents and approvals.

Africa Oil Corp. has a 25% working interest in Blocks 10BB and 13T with Tullow Oil plc (50% and Operator) and Maersk Olie og Gas A/S (25%) holding the remaining interests.

Field Development (Blocks 10BB and 13T)

In addition to the drilling and operational activities to support the Final Investment Decision ("FID") for the Kenya Full Field Development, engineering studies and contracting activities are under way in preparation for the start of the Front End Engineering Design ("FEED"), which are expected to take place during 2018.

The Joint Venture Partners are continuing optimisation of the development plans that will allow field and pipeline infrastructure to move forward while limiting upfront capital spend.

A Joint Development Agreement (JDA), setting out a structure for the Government of Kenya and the Kenya Joint Venture Partners to progress the development of the export pipeline, was signed on 25 October 2017. The JDA allows important studies to commence such as FEED, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), as well as studies on pipeline financing and ownership.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/08112017/africa-oil-kenya-operations-update/