Aminex Calls on io for Tanzania Study

UK-listed independent Aminex has appointed an adviser to prepare a gas commercialisation study to assist with the development of the Ntorya field onshore southern Tanzania.

Io Oil & Gas Consulting (IOGC), a joint venture between GE Baker Hughes and McDermott, will identify gas monetisation options available to Aminex, and its junior partner Solo Oil, including potential early development facilities to supply gas to the local market and to enable near-term revenue generation.

The Ntorya-2 appraisal well tested in March 2017 at 17mn ft³/d and is suspended for future production. Aminex's management estimates that the Ntorya appraisal area has P-mean gas initially in place of 466bn ft³.

Gas from longer-term development of the field is expected to be supplied into Tanzania’s pipeline system, but Aminex is keen to implement solutions for early monetisation of Ntorya before this. It said it may explore options to collaborate further in the future with IOGC.

Aminex CEO Jay Bhattacherjee said his company expected to apply to the Tanzanian government for the Ntorya Development licence by early September. The Ntorya field is part of the Ruvuma production sharing area in Tanzania near the border with Mozambique. It is licensed to Aminex as operator (75%) and Solo Oil (25%).

Bhattacherjee told NGW a year ago that Ntorya/Ruvuma might produce 100mn ft³/d and that near-term monetisation options include laying a 25-km pipe to the free port of Mtwara so that heavy industry could buy the gas.

Plans to develop a fertiliser plant near Lindi, also not far away, have been on hold because of a lack of available feed gas.

Map credit: Aminex 

Mark Smedley