Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Apr. 22 -- The Kivu Graben area in northwestern Rwanda holds a possible active oil generation and accumulation system, according to a technical review commissioned by Vangold Resources Ltd. The conclusion suggests that Tullow Oil's oil discovery in southwestern Uganda extends into Rwanda.
The oil slicks-seeps survey completes the first phase of the work program covering its block, White Elephant, which is part of the Albertine Graben.
Vangold will now perform a geochemical sampling of several slicks that were identified during the survey. It will also do gravity and magnetic surveys to determine the depth and areal extent of the East Kivu Graben.
The report said 53 unassigned and 2 priority unassigned slicks required "further investigation that includes Landsat fault-line interpretation, seismic correlation, and geochemical sampling studies. A fault-linear interpretation of Landsat imagery in earlier studies indicates a strong correlation of slicks with faults."
Danson Mburu, Vangold's geophysicist added: "Correlation of the only two seismic sections available with some of [the unassigned sections] shows that most of the 'seep' features appear to be close to where the basin section onlaps onto the mainland or the shores of Idjwe Island."
White Elephant covers 1,631 sq km in northwestern Rwanda. Vangold has exclusive rights to the oil and gas concession and plans to start negotiations with Rwandan authorities over the next 18 months for a production-sharing license.
"Upon completion of the technical review and concluding negotiations with Vangold, the government may consider participating in the exploration phase," Vangold said.
Rwanda is committed to exploring its hydrocarbon potential over the long term and is commercially developing its reserves of methane gas in the Lake Kivu area.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
