Tullow Oil considers further exploration at North Kerio Basin in Kenya

Tullow Oil said it is considering further exploration activities in the North Kerio Basin in Kenya after the Epri-1 well in block 10BB encountered oil and wet gas shows.

The shows were over a 100m interval of non-reservoir quality rocks, revealing a working petroleum system in the lacustrine sub-basin.

The Epir-1 well was drilled to a final depth of 3,057m using the Weatherford 804 rig, which will now move to the Ekales-2 location in the South Lokichar Basin.

It will undertake appraisal of the discovery made by the Ekales-1 well and will target reservoirs in a separate fault block to the east of the discovery well.

Elsewhere, the SMP-106 rig has started drilling the Engomo-1 well, the first test of the prospective North Turkana Basin in Kenya Block 10BA.

Tullow said 160m to 200m of net oil pay was discovered at its Ngamia-5 well and up to 135m of oil was encountered at its Ngamia-6 well.

Meanwhile, the Amosing-3 well in Block 10BB continued the appraisal of the Amosing oil field.

The well was drilled about 1km northwest of the Amosing-1 discovery well and encountered more than 107m of net oil pay in good quality reservoir sands.

The PR Marriott 46 rig will now be moved to continue the appraisal of the Ngamia field, drilling the Ngamia-7 well to test the field’s eastern flank.

Tullow operates three blocks in Kenya with a 50% stake while Africa Oil holds the remaining 50% interest.

Tullow Oil exploration director Angus McCoss said: "The Epir-1 wildcat well proved the existence of a working oil system in the North Kerio Basin, encouraging us to consider further exploration activities.

"The Ekales-2 exploratory appraisal well is a bold step-out away from the South Lokichar Basin bounding fault with follow up potential."