Mozambique gas bounty elevated to 30-50+ tcf

Nov. 29, 2011
Deepwater wells off Mozambique have encountered an estimated 30 tcf to more than 50 tcf of natural gas in place, said Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

Deepwater wells off Mozambique have encountered an estimated 30 tcf to more than 50 tcf of natural gas in place, said Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

“Recoverable resources of this size and quality are perfectly suited for a large-scale LNG development, which is currently being designed to consist of at least two trains with the flexibility to expand to six trains,” Anadarko said. “We also plan to leverage our experience with Independence Hub by constructing an offshore hub facility that will be tied back to the LNG plant onshore.”

Anadarko, operator of the 2.6 million acre Offshore Area 1, said its Barquentine-3 appraisal well encountered more than 662 net ft of gas pay in two high-quality Oligocene-aged fan systems, greatly expanding the estimated recoverable resource range to 15 tcf to 30+ tcf. Barquentine-3 marks the sixth successful penetration in the complex that includes the Windjammer, Lagosta, Barquentine, and Camarao discoveries.

The complex could be “one of the most important natural gas fields discovered in the last 10 years,” said Anadarko chairman and CEO Jim Hackett.

Anadarko President and Chief Operating Officer, Al Walker, said, “The results of Barquentine-3 indicate that we continue to encounter very thick sands with high-quality rock throughout these massive, connected reservoirs.”

Walker said Anadarko is nearing the completion of the pre-FEED activity and expects to begin FEED work in the near future. The company has analyzed its two new 3D seismic datasets and has rig commitments in place to continue appraisal work while accelerating exploration.

Anadarko is mobilizing the Deepwater Millennium drillship to test more high-potential prospects in other parts of Offshore Area 1 and has signed a 4-year contract extension to keep the Belford Dolphin drillship working in the basin.

Barquentine-3 went to a total depth of 13,400 ft in 5,170 ft of water 2.75 miles southeast of the Barquentine discovery well and 1.8 miles south of the Barquentine-2 appraisal well. The partnership will preserve Barquentine-3 for use as a monitor well during its upcoming testing program. The drillship will next move to top set the Barquentine-4 appraisal well.

Offshore Area 1 working interests are Anadarko 36.5%, Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Ltd. 20%, BPRL Ventures Mozambique BV 10%, Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Ltd. 10%, and Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore Ltd. 8.5%. Mozambique’s state Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos is carried for a 15% interest through the exploration phase.