Kenyans should not rejoice yet as the oil prospecting at Ngamia 1 is still at its second stage-exploration.
Tullow Oil which announced last month that they have discovered oil in Turkana told reporters on Thursday that the exploration process was still far from being conclusive. "We are excited by the prospects but we will only be definite when we reach 2,700metres after which the results will be further analysed and the well be tested," said Tullow general manager for Kenya Martin Mbogo at the site in Lokichar during a media tour.
By yesterday, Tullow had drilled 1,515metres at block 10BB at Ngamia Rig site. Mbogo said they expect to reach their primary drilling of 2,700metres in 35 days. The drilling is being done by Weatherford International using Rig 804. Martin Mwaisakenyi, commissioner for petroleum energy at the Ministry of Energy said it was still early to determined whether Ngamia 1 was viable for commercial production. "Now we are speculating we cannot say for sure if the oil will be enough for production but this is the most promising well since we started oil exploration in 1960," he said.
The Ngamia well was initially drilled to a depth of 1,041metres and movable oil was found. The oil discovered in the area has similar properties to the the light waxy crude discovered in Uganda. Forty wells have been sunk in Uganda to date and 1.1 billion barrels have been discovered. Commenting on the rising tension by locals who claims they were not consulted, Mbogo said they have had a number of stakeholders meetings with the locals. "We have a very good working relation with the government and the locals have benefited too, especially in infrastructure development," Mbogo said.
In 2011, Tullow spent Sh30 million to help in education, health and infrastructure development in the area. There are five stages in oil production and Ngamia well is at the second stage, called exploration. After exploration which entails detailed survey to identify a suitable project, it moves to appraisal stage. If a prospect is discovered appraisals wells are used to check flow rate of the hydrocarbon (oil). This is the stage that Ngamia well is headed to.
The third stage is the development stage where Tullow Oil will asses the commercial viability of the find which is followed by drilling of wells in preparation of oil production. Uganda is at this stage. The final stage is the production by extracting and selling the oil. Mbogo said the project may take up to three years if oil is found in the Ngamia well. The company has already started prospecting for oil at Block 10A (Paipai-1) in Marsabit. Other blocks are in Baringo, Turkana and Kisumu.
Tullow Oil which announced last month that they have discovered oil in Turkana told reporters on Thursday that the exploration process was still far from being conclusive. "We are excited by the prospects but we will only be definite when we reach 2,700metres after which the results will be further analysed and the well be tested," said Tullow general manager for Kenya Martin Mbogo at the site in Lokichar during a media tour.
By yesterday, Tullow had drilled 1,515metres at block 10BB at Ngamia Rig site. Mbogo said they expect to reach their primary drilling of 2,700metres in 35 days. The drilling is being done by Weatherford International using Rig 804. Martin Mwaisakenyi, commissioner for petroleum energy at the Ministry of Energy said it was still early to determined whether Ngamia 1 was viable for commercial production. "Now we are speculating we cannot say for sure if the oil will be enough for production but this is the most promising well since we started oil exploration in 1960," he said.
The Ngamia well was initially drilled to a depth of 1,041metres and movable oil was found. The oil discovered in the area has similar properties to the the light waxy crude discovered in Uganda. Forty wells have been sunk in Uganda to date and 1.1 billion barrels have been discovered. Commenting on the rising tension by locals who claims they were not consulted, Mbogo said they have had a number of stakeholders meetings with the locals. "We have a very good working relation with the government and the locals have benefited too, especially in infrastructure development," Mbogo said.
In 2011, Tullow spent Sh30 million to help in education, health and infrastructure development in the area. There are five stages in oil production and Ngamia well is at the second stage, called exploration. After exploration which entails detailed survey to identify a suitable project, it moves to appraisal stage. If a prospect is discovered appraisals wells are used to check flow rate of the hydrocarbon (oil). This is the stage that Ngamia well is headed to.
The third stage is the development stage where Tullow Oil will asses the commercial viability of the find which is followed by drilling of wells in preparation of oil production. Uganda is at this stage. The final stage is the production by extracting and selling the oil. Mbogo said the project may take up to three years if oil is found in the Ngamia well. The company has already started prospecting for oil at Block 10A (Paipai-1) in Marsabit. Other blocks are in Baringo, Turkana and Kisumu.
