Aminex sets to work on Tanzania gas prospects

May 24, 2011
Aminex expects to start drilling its fourth exploration well shortly in the Nyuni PSA offshore Tanzania.

Offshore staff

LONDON -- Aminex expects to start drilling its fourth exploration well shortly in the Nyuni PSA offshore Tanzania.
The Nyuni-2 well will be drilled directionally from the small Nyuni Island via the land rig Caroil-6 in the northeast of the license area to test a large Neocomian prospect, with a bottom-hole location around 1,200 m (3,937 ft) southeast of the island.

Aminex has negotiated a new PSA with the Tanzanian authorities which will include four additional, contiguous blocks north of the existing PSA area. The government also has granted a six-month extension to the existing PSA to accommodate any delays in the upcoming drilling activity.

In the nearby offshore West Songo-Songo PSA, a potential 1 tcf discovery at West Songo-Songo could be tied into a proposed gas gathering hub based around the Kiliwani North field.

Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals granted a development license for Kiliwani North in April. A 3-km (1.8-mi), 6-in. (15.2-cm) pipeline connecting the Kiliwani North wellhead to gas processing facilities on Songo-Songo Island should be installed this year, with first gas sales provisionally in early 2012.

The field was discovered and tested in 2008, and has estimated in-place reserves of 45 bcf.

05/24/2011