Apache Corp. has encountered gas in the shallowest objective in the Mbawa-1 exploratory well in the Lamu basin offshore Kenya, said participant Tullow Oil PLC.
Drilling continues toward a planned final depth of 3,275 m after the well on the L8 license encountered 52 m of net gas pay in porous Cretaceous sandstones at about 2,500 m.
Apache is operator of L8 with 50% interest. Origin Energy Resources Ltd., Sydney, has 20%, and Pancontinental Oil & Gas NL, Perth, and Apache have 15% each.
Angus McCoss, Tullow exploration director, said, “A gas discovery on prognosis in the shallowest objective at Mbawa-1 is an encouraging start to our East African Transform Margin exploration campaign. This is the first hydrocarbon discovery offshore Kenya. The on-going drilling remains on course to test for any deeper oil potential within this gas prone region.”