Wentworth starts drilling at fifth well in Mnazi Bay, Tanzania

Independent oil and gas company Wentworth Resources has started drilling at the onshore Ziwani-1 exploration well in the Mnazi Bay concession area, Ruvuma Basin, Tanzania.

Maurel et Prom is the operator of the Ziwani-1 well, which is the fifth well to be drilled in the Mnazi Bay concession area and the first since the drilling of the MS-1X exploration well began in 2007.

The drilling is estimated to take 35 days, targeting Miocene and Oligocene sandstones, similar to the reservoirs of the Mnazi Bay and Msimbati gas fields, to an expected vertical target depth range of 1,800m to 2,500m.

"We are excited to start the year with a high impact work programme that has the potential to deliver significant asset growth and shareholder value in 2012," said Wentworth managing director Geoff Bury.

"The carried interest we enjoy in the Mnazi Bay concession provides full participation with reduced financial exposure."

Wentworth holds a 52.225% participating interest the Ziwani-1 well and will pay 30% of its costs.

The drilling of the Ziwani-1 exploration well is the start of the 2012 Mnazi Bay work programme, which includes three existing work-overs wells and one additional exploration well.

The company said a long-term gas supply agreement is under discussion between concession partners and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation.

Located in coastal, south-eastern Tanzania, the Mnazi Bay concession area lies between Aminex and Tullow Oil’s Ruvuma Concession Area and Ophir Energy and BG Group’s offshore Block 1.

The 756km² area holds additional Tertiary, Cretaceous and Jurassic hydrocarbon potential, with two discovered Tertiary aged gas fields (Mnazi Bay and Msimbati).