Tullow makes Kenya discovery

The UK-based E&P company Tullow Oil announced on Wednesday that it had made a significant oil discovery in northern Kenya.

The Emekuya-1 well – drilled 2.5 kilometres from the Etom-2 well in Block 13T, which hit oil in December 2015 – encountered about 75 metres of net crude deposits in two separate zones.

“This well has proven oil charge across a significant part of the Greater Etom structure and we are very encouraged by the quality and particularly the regional extent of the reservoir,” Angus McCoss, Tullow’s exploration director, said in a statement.

“The reservoir sands encountered also appear to be extensive which further de-risks the northern play area and bodes well for future exploration in the region,” the company’s press release added.

The PR Marriott Rig-46 used for the drilling of the 1,356-metre well will next drill an up-dip appraisal well in the same structure. Tullow is the operator of Block 13T and holds a 50% stake in it alongside the Africa Oil Corporation (25%) and Maersk Oil (25%).