Ophir Announces Gas Discovery in Tanzania Block 1

Ophir Energy on Wednesday announced two wells in Tanzania’s offshore Block 1, Taachui-1 and subsequent Taachui-1 ST1 have resulted in gas discovery.

The company holds 20% of Blocks 1, 3 and 4. BG Group operates with 60%.

Taachui-1 well was drilled close to the western boundary of Block 1. The well encountered gas in a single gross column of 289m within the targeted Cretaceous reservoir interval. Net pay totalled 155m.

“Observed reservoir properties are in-line with those encountered at Mzia, the other Cretaceous-aged discovery on Block 1. Estimates for the mean recoverable resource from the discovery are c.1.0 TCF. The size of the gas column is such that the discovery could extend into a second compartment to the west which has the potential to be of a similar size,” Ophir said.

An appraisal well will be required to confirm this upside and is under consideration by the JV partners.

A Drill Stem Test will now be performed on the Taachui discovery with results expected before the end of June.

“The Taachui-1 discovery continues the 100% drilling success rate on Blocks 1, 3 and 4 and adds further resource to support the LNG development in Tanzania. The result is important to Ophir for two reasons: firstly it extends the proven hydrocarbon system to the eastern limit of, and partly de-risks, Ophir’s East Pande permit on which the Tende-1 well will be drilled later in 2014; secondly the aggregate recoverable volumes of c.16.7 TCF are now approaching the threshold needed to underpin a potential third LNG Train from Blocks 1, 3 and 4,” Nick Cooper, CEO, commented.