Sasol, ENH to drill on Mozambican acreage

July 18, 2008
Sasol and Mozambique's national oil company, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos EP (ENH), have secured a drilling rig for Blocks 16 and 19 off Mozambique, starting in the third quarter.

Uchenna Izundu
International Editor

LONDON, July 17 -- Sasol and Mozambique's national oil company, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos EP (ENH), have secured a drilling rig for Blocks 16 and 19 off Mozambique, starting in the third quarter.

The companies leased the rig from Transocean Offshore International Ventures along with two towing and anchor handling vessels to support it. Varun Shipping Co. supply the vessels. The equipment is expected to arrive in Mozambique by the end of August.

"The drilling of exploration wells will take place in deep water, well away from the shallow environmentally sensitive waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago, said Lean Strauss group general manager, Sasol International Energy Cluster. "Safety and protection of the environment will be key to the drilling exploration program that is expected to be completed by yearend."

Sasol Petroleum Sofala Limitada (SPS) and ENH are the concession holders of the acreage which together span 11,000 sq km and lies directly opposite Sasol's existing onshore gas operations at Pande and Temane.

Strauss added that Sasol has shot seismic surveys over the blocks.

If the partners discover natural gas, Sasol plans to sell it into Mozambique and South Africa.

Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected]