Africa Oil Corp: exploration well comes up dry

Africa Oil Corp has announced that the Gardim-1 exploration well, drilled on the eastern flank of the Chew Bahir Basin in the South Omo licence, onshore Ethiopia, has reached a total depth of 2468 m in basement, without encountering commercial oil.

The well intersected lacustrine and volcanic formations, similar to those found in the Shimela-1 well on the north-western flank of the basin. Minor intervals with thermogenic gas shows were intersected just above basement. The well will be plugged and abandoned and drilling operations will now be demobilised whilst these results are integrated into the regional basin model.

Meanwhile seismic interpretation continues on independent prospectivity elsewhere in the licence and the next phase of our Ethiopia exploration campaign will target these prospects.

Keith Hill, President and CEO of Africa Oil, commented, "While we are disappointed that neither well in the Chew Bahir basin recovered oil, we are still committed to further exploration in Ethiopia including the South Omo Block. The presence of an active petroleum system has been confirmed in the Western portion of the South Omo Block in the Sabisa and Tutule wells and further analysis will be undertaken on the Shimela and Gardim wells to determine if further exploration is warranted. We are also undertaking seismic programs this year in both the Rift Basin Area and Adigala blocks with drilling planned for next year."

Adapted from a press release by David Bizley

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