Anadarko group sees at least 10 tcf off Mozambique

Oct. 5, 2011
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said its latest exploratory well off Mozambique found 140 net ft of gas pay in Miocene and Oligocene sand packages shallower than those in earlier wells and boosted its view of the resource potential of Offshore Area 1 to at least 10 tcf of gas.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said its latest exploratory well off Mozambique found 140 net ft of gas pay in Miocene and Oligocene sand packages shallower than those in earlier wells and boosted its view of the resource potential of Offshore Area 1 to at least 10 tcf of gas.

The company said results to date in the deepwater Rovuma basin indicate that the Windjammer, Barqentine, Lagosta, and Camarao complex has at least 10 tcf of recoverable gas.

The Camarao exploratory well also encountered 240 net ft of gas pay in an excellent quality reservoir and confirmed static pressure connectivity with Windjammer and Lagosta, Anadarko said.

Bob Daniels, Anadarko senior vice-president, worldwide exploration, said, “We are optimistic that our current resource estimates will increase, as we still have significant exploration and appraisal work ahead of us, including the evaluation of two newly acquired 3D seismic datasets and expanded prospect opportunities.

“We are mobilizing a second deepwater drillship to the Rovuma basin to accelerate the campaign, which includes an extensive reservoir testing program and up to seven exploration/appraisal wells over the next 12 months.”

Chuck Meloy, Anadarko Sr. Vice President, Worldwide Operations, said, "Given the increased resource potential of this complex, our base case development plans have now been expanded to a minimum of two 5-million-tonne-per-annum LNG trains with the flexibility to develop additional trains based upon continued exploration and appraisal success.

“Once the first two trains are constructed, this infrastructure is expected to provide economies of scale that can reduce expansion costs for any additional trains. Further, we anticipate the results of our drillstem testing program will help determine the optimal number of subsea development wells and offshore facility requirements. We expect to provide further details regarding this world-class development by early next year."

The Camarao discovery well went to 12,630 ft in 4,730 ft of water 5 miles south of Windjammer and 10 miles north of Lagosta. Camarao will be preserved as part of the partnership’s drillstem test program, and the drillship will be mobilized north to drill the Barquentine-3 appraisal well.

Anadarko operates the 2.6-million-acre Offshore Area 1 with a 36.5% working interest. Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Ltd. has 20%, BPRL Ventures Mozambique BV and Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Ltd. have 10% each, and Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore Ltd. has 8.5%. Mozambique’s ENH has a 15% interest carried through the exploration phase.