A major natural gas discovery has been made offshore Mozambique in the deepwater Rovuma Basin.
The discovery was made by London, UK-based Cove Energy together with its partner, Houston, US-based Aanadarko Petroleum, nearly 20 miles north-west of the Prosperidade complex.
The Golfinho discovery well encountered more than 193 net feet of natural gas pay in two high-quality Oligocene fan systems. The well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 14,885 feet in water depths of approximately 3,370 feet.
Anadarko Petroleum is the operator in the Offshore Area 1 with a 36.5 per cent working interest. Co-owners include Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 with 20 per cent; BPRL Ventures Mozambique B.V. with 10 per cent; Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 with 10 per cent; and Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore with 8.5 per cent. Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos EP has a 15 per cent interest carried through the exploration phase.
John Craven, CEO of Cove Energy, commented: “We are thrilled at the success of the Golfinho exploration well, our eleventh successful well offshore Mozambique. This new gas accumulation is independent and separate to the Prosperidade gas complex and with successful appraisal could be advantageously developed, given its close proximity to shore and the fact that it completely enclosed in Area 1.”
Bob Daniels, Anadarko’s SVP of Worldwide Exploration, added: "The success of the Golfinho well significantly expands the tremendous resource potential of the Offshore Area 1 in the deep-water Rovuma Basin, with additional opportunities yet to test. The Golfinho discovery, which is entirely contained within the Offshore Area 1 block, adds an estimated seven to 20-plus Tcf (trillion cubic feet) of incremental recoverable resources over a significant areal extent. This new discovery is only 10 miles offshore, providing potential cost advantages for future development options.
"We are very excited about this new discovery and the value these additional resources represent for the people of Mozambique and our partnership. We look forward to continuing an active exploration program in the highly prospective northern and southern portions of the Offshore Area 1, as well as delineating this new discovery."
Cove has exploration interests in East Africa that include Area 1 Offshore Mozambique, which contains the Prosperidade gas complex (Windjammer, Barquentine, Lagosta, and Camarão), Golfinho and Tubarão gas and Ironclad oil discoveries where drilling and well testing operations are expected to continue through 2012.
