Canada-based oil and gas company Africa Oil has announced that Tullow Oil has begun drilling of an exploration well in the Etuko (formerly Kamba) prospect located in Block 10BB, Kenya.
Tullow Oil is the operator of Block 10BB. The well is being drilled to target a new play area in the Lockichar Basin, where the recent Ngamia and Twiga have confirmed a working petroleum system.
Etuko well will focus on the eastern flank play, where oil was discovered in 1992 by Shell at the Loperot-1 well.
The primary objective of Etuko well will be the Lower Lokhone and Auwerwer sands, which have shown high quality reservoirs containing oil in existing wells.
The prospect is estimated to hold prospective resources of about 231 million barrels of oil. Africa Oil CEO Keith Hill said the company considers the Etuko prospect as one of the most attractive prospects in its portfolio and has the potential to open up a new play fairway on the eastern side of the already proven Lockichar Basin.
“A number of additional prospects and leads will be de-risked on this ‘eastern flank’ play if the Etuko well is successful,” Hill added. Tullow Oil is expected to take 60 days to drill and evaluate the well.