Kosmos Resumes Senegal Exploration

US independent Kosmos Energy said March 24 it has begun the second phase of its multi-well exploration drilling program offshore Mauritania and Senegal.    

The Atwood Achiever drillship is now on location offshore Senegal  in the Cayar Offshore Profond block and has started drilling operations on the first exploration well in the program targeting the Yakaar prospect (formerly referred to as Teranga West). The Yakaar prospect is located some 40 km west of the Teranga discovery.

Kosmos indicated in January that its new programme will be targeting oil prospects further west of the gas discoveries it has already made. BP completed its roughly $1bn farm-in to Kosmos' assets offshore both countries last month and is scheduled to become operator of the Tortue floating liquefaction project, for start up in the 2020s. The final investment decision is scheduled to be taken 2018.

Mark Smedley