Anadarko Petroleum has announced the discovery of a “significant” natural gas accumulation at one of its wells offshore Mozambique.
The discovery was made in the Offshore Area 1 of the Rovuma Basin. The Atum discovery well encountered more than 300 net feet (92 metres) of natural gas pay in two high-quality Oligocene fan systems, the company said.
Anadarko 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 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's 15 per cent interest is carried through the exploration phase.
Preliminary data indicates that this latest discovery is connected to the partnership's recent Golfinho discovery, located approximately 10 miles to the north-west in the Offshore Area 1.
Once operations are completed at Atum, the partnership plans to commence appraisal activities that are expected to be followed by a drillstem testing programme in the Golfinho and Atum complex.
Commenting on the news, senior vice president of Worldwide Exploration at Anadarko Bob Daniels said: "The combined success at Atum and Golfinho and apparent connectivity of these Oligocene fan systems, indicate these discoveries represent our partnership's second major natural gas complex offshore Mozambique. We estimate this new complex, which is located entirely within the Offshore Area 1 block, holds 10 to 30-plus trillion cubic feet of incremental recoverable natural gas resources. We plan to immediately commence a four-well appraisal program of this complex, which has the potential to underpin a large LNG development."
Anadarko’s president and CEO Al Walker added: “We still have additional exploration opportunities that could expand the resource potential further. A recoverable resource base of this scale supports our initial two-train development plans, as well as significant future expansions. Our current activity is focused on achieving reserve certification and a final investment decision in 2013, as the partnership works toward expected first sales of LNG in 2018."
As of year end 2011, Houston, US-based Anadarko had approximately 2.54 billion barrels equivalent of proved reserves, making it one of the world's largest independent exploration and production companies.
