Oil major Shell has completed the drilling of two exploration wells in Block 1 and 4, located in the Mafia Deep basin, off Tanzania. No hydrocarbons were found as a result.
Shell is the operator of these two blocks with 60% interest and Ophir Energy is its partner with 20% stake. The remaining 20% stake is held by Pavilion Energy. Shell became the operator of the two blocks in February 2016, after its combination with BG Group.
Ophir reported on Thursday, December 29 that the program comprised Kitatange-1 in Block 1 and Bunju-1 in Block 4. After evaluation, Shell has confirmed that good quality reservoir was encountered in both wells, however, hydrocarbons were not found.
The wells were drilled with Noble Corp.’s drillship Noble Globetrotter 2 which started operations off Tanzania at the end of October and drilled in waters up to 2300 meters deep.
Ophir also said that the drillship Noble Globetrotter 2 has now been demobilized from the site. The two wells fulfill the final exploration commitments as per the exploration licences issued by the country’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals. The partners said last month they would be investing close to $80 million into the well drilling programs.
Subsequent to the completion of drilling Kitatange-1, a bridging license has been awarded for the existing discovery Locations in Block 1.
Offshore Energy Today Staff