Maurel & Prom, Paris, has spudded the Ziwani-1 onshore exploratory well on the 756 sq km Mnazi Bay concession in the Rovuma basin in coastal Tanzania.

Expected vertical target depth range is 1,800-2,500 m. The drillsite is 13 km west of Mnazi Bay and Msimbati gas fields, where four wells encountered hydrocarbons and the MB-1 is producing 1.7-2.0 MMscfd through an 8-in., 27-km pipeline to the Mtwara power plant that generates electricity for local communities.

Ziwani-1 is the first well drilled in the concession since 2007. It targets Miocene and Oligocene sandstones similar to the reservoirs in the two gas fields. The concession also has Cretaceous and Jurassic potential, said Wentworth Resources Ltd., Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which has a 52.225% interest in Ziwani-1 subject to the exercise of preemptive rights regarding the acquisition of Cove Energy PLC’s interest in Mnazi Bay.

Proving up more gas reserves will enable the concession partners to commit to and deliver agreed gas volumes to the proposed Dar es Salaam to Mnazi Bay pipeline. The partners are in discussions with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. with a view to agreeing a long-term gas supply agreement.