Deepwater Tanzanian wells prove further gas

July 5, 2013
Ophir Energy has updated the status of the deepwater BG-operated Ngisi drilling program on block 4 offshore Tanzania.

Offshore staff

LONDON --Ophir Energy (LON:OPH) has updated the status of the deepwater BG-operated Ngisi drilling program on block 4 offshore Tanzania.

TheDeepsea Metro I drillship drilled the Ngisi-1 well around 5 km (3 mi) northeast of the 2010 Chewa-1 gas discovery well. It was designed both to appraise Chewa and to penetrate the Ngisi exploration prospect.

On completion of the initial well, two side tracks followed to further delineate both structures. These deliveredgas pay in Ngisi within a high net-gross reservoir interval, and further pay as prognosed in the Chewa, confirming strong reservoir characteristics.

As a result, recoverable resources for the Chewa-Pweza-Ngisi hub have been upgraded from 3.7 tcf to 4.5 tcf. The results have additionally de-risked exploration upside in several nearby targets, and confirmed the feasibility of drilling highly deviated wells for the development.

BG Group/Ophir and BG Group drilled their first deviated well in the region last December on the Jodari field.

Deepsea Metro I has relocated to drill the Mkizi-1 exploration well on block 1. Mkizi is a 0.6-tcf Tertiary prospect, close to Jodari. Thereafter, the partners plan to appraise the block 4 Pweza discovery.

7/5/2013