Pipelay, seismic surveys under way on Tanzania license

Sept. 20, 2012
Tanzania’s government has inaugurated a project to construct a 36-in. (91-cm) diameter pipeline.

Offshore staff

LONDON – Tanzania’s government has inaugurated a project to construct a 36-in. (91-cm) diameter pipeline. This will run from Mnazi Bay, 40 km (25 mi) from Aminex’s recent Ntorya-1 gas discovery, to Dar es Salaam.

The project also includes a 24-in. (61-cm) spur line that will connect the main pipeline to Songo Songo Island, the location of Aminex’s offshore Kiliwani North development license, where the government plans to build an additional gas processing facility.

The new pipelines should be in place by early 2014, providing a direct route to market for gas from both Kiliwani North and Ntorya.

Aminex is acquiring new seismic data over its acreage offshore Tanzania. In May, it started a335-km (208-mi) 2D seismic survey across the reefs and shallow-water area of the Nyuni Area PSA. However, after shooting around 50% of the seismic lines, work had to be suspended due to heavy seas. The program should re-start this year.

The deepwater section covers around 30% of the license. Aminex is currently looking for vessels to acquire more than 1,000 km (621 mi) of 2D data, aimed at unlocking what it believes is significant stratigraphic potential.

9/20/2012