Cretaceous flows 57 MMscfd in Tanzania deepwater

May 1, 2013
BG Group has drillstem tested gas from better than expected properties in the deeper Cretaceous reservoir at its Mzia-2 well on Block 1 offshore Tanzania.

BG Group has drillstem tested gas from better than expected properties in the deeper Cretaceous reservoir at its Mzia-2 well on Block 1 offshore Tanzania.

The first test of a Cretaceous discovery in deep water off Tanzania flowed at a maximum rate of 57 MMscfd of gas limited by test equipment capacity.

Mzia-2 is 4 km from the Mzia-1 discovery in 1,620 m of water and 45 km off southern Tanzania. It is 22 km north of the Jodari-1 discovery well, also on Block 1, where a successful drillstem test was completed in March on the shallower Tertiary reservoir.

BG Group Chief Executive Chris Finlayson said, “The successful Mzia-2 drill stem test follows completion of a multiwell appraisal program earlier this year on the nearby Jodari field. Results from the current campaign demonstrate the excellent quality of our interests offshore Tanzania, where our resources, and those of other participants in the region, are helping support plans for a multitrain LNG export project.

“While we continue exploration and appraisal offshore, BG Group and others are jointly studying suitable sites for a potential onshore LNG terminal and anticipate providing proposed locations to the Tanzania government in the next few months,” Finlayson said.

The drillship Deepsea Metro-1 has moved to drill the Ngisi-1 exploratory well adjacent to the Pweza and Chewa discoveries on Block 4.

BG Group will use data from the current exploration and appraisal campaign and a recently completed 3D seismic survey to help identify new offshore targets for a third exploration program to start in late 2013.

Prior to Mzia-2, BG Group’s acreage offshore Tanzania had produced seven consecutive natural gas discoveries, two successful appraisal wells and a successful test at Jodari field.

BG Group as operator has a 60% interest in Blocks 1, 3, and 4 offshore Tanzania, and Ophir Energy has 40%.