Offshore staff

(London) First Africa Oil announces a successful drill stem test of its second appraisal/development well on the East Orovinyare field (EOV) offshore Gabon. The well, drilled by the jack-up Global SantaFe Adriatic VI , flowed 1,800-1,900 b/d of oil, boosted later to 2,857 b/d following nitrogen gas lift. The latter technique will also be applied in completion of the production wells.

The rig will resume development drilling, which will include re-entry of the EOV-4 well, suspended earlier following hole stability problems. Four wells are being tied back to a single unmanned platform, with production sent to an FPSO for processing. EOV should start up in 2007.

05-29-06