Statoil ASA and coventurer ExxonMobil Corp. have made what the companies are calling a “high-impact” gas discovery in the Piri prospect offshore Tanzania, marking the sixth discovery on Block 2 by the firms (OGJ Online, Dec. 6, 2013).
Piri-1, drilled by the Discoverer Americas drillship, is 2 km southwest of the Lavani-1 well in 2,360 m of water. Discoverer Americas is now drilling the Binzari prospect on Block 2.
The discovery was made in the same Lower Cretaceous sandstones as the gas discovery in the Zafarani-1 well drilled in 2012 (OGJ Online, Dec. 22, 2012).
Statoil says discovery of an additional 2-3 tcf of gas in place in the Piri-1 well brings to 20 tcf the total of in-place volumes on the block.
Additional prospectivity has been mapped and will be tested throughout this year and next, Statoil said, adding that the company expects to drill several more exploration and appraisal wells in the area.
Statoil operates the license on Block 2 on behalf of Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. with 65% working interest. ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Tanzania Ltd. holds the remaining interest. Statoil has been in Tanzania since 2007, when it was awarded the operatorship for Block 2.
