BG terminates discovery well offshore Kenya

April 14, 2014
The drillship Deepsea Metro 1 has P&A’d the Sunbird-1 discovery well in block 10A offshore southern Kenya.

Offshore staff

PERTH, Australia – The drillship Deepsea Metro 1 has P&A’d the Sunbird-1 discovery well in block 10A offshore southern Kenya.

According to partner Pancontinental Oil and Gas, the well intersected a hydrocarbon-bearing zone in the top of the Sunbird Miocene Pinnacle Reef. At this stage, the find does not appear to be commercial.

Analysis of wireline log data and fluid samples recovered from the limestone reservoir is complex, the company adds, due to the large volume of drilling fluid, seawater, and cement lost to highly porous and permeable zones in the Sunbird Reef, some into the hydrocarbon-bearing zone.

Gas and liquid samples have been recovered, but more analysis will be needed to determine whether the liquids are oil or condensate.

Operator BG Group will issue recommendations for a follow-up appraisal program after reviewing the results.

Pancontinental says the discovery should provide important data on the hydrocarbon system in theLamu basin, including the age of the source rock and the timing of generation.

Sunbird is one of an inboard cluster of Miocene reefs. Outboard prospects include Tertiary and Cretaceous channels, large anticlinal complexes and various Cretaceous and Tertiary fault-bounded prospects.

04/14/2014