Sinopec JDZ Block 2 Ltd. will spud an exploration well on the Bomu deepwater prospect on Block 2 in the Nigeria-Sao Tome & Principe Joint Development Zone (JDZ) in the Gulf of Guinea before the end of August, the company said.
Sinopec will drill the well to a TD of 3,536 m in 1,646 m of water using Transocean Inc.'s Sedco-702 semisubmersible.
"The well, named JDZ Bomu-1, will target a number of potential exploration targets at different depths in one of the several prospects identified from 3D seismic analysis and interpretation in JDZ Block 2," said partner ERHC Energy Inc. (see map, OGJ, Sept. 8, 2003, p. 38).
Final well results should be available in the fourth quarter.
The production-sharing contract for JDZ Block 2 was signed in March 2006, and the partners have been carrying out extensive subsurface studies and preparations for exploratory drilling.
Sinopec JDZ is leading a consortium that includes ERHC Energy Nigeria JDZ Block 2 Ltd., Addax Energy Nigeria Ltd., ONGC Narmada Ltd., Equator Exploration JDZ Block 2 Ltd., A & Hatman Ltd., Momo Deepwater JDZ Ltd., and Foby Engineering Co. Ltd.
Egypt
Sea Dragon Energy Inc., Calgary, acquired a 10% working interest in the North West Gemsa development and exploration lease in Egypt's Gulf of Suez onshore area from Premier Oil Overseas BV for $12.5 million.
Vegas Oil & Gas operates the 250 sq km concession with 50% interest, and Circle Oil PLC has 40%.
The government issued a 20-year development lease around the October 2008 Al Amir-SE-1 discovery well that tested 3,388 b/d of 41° gravity oil and 4.25 MMscfd of gas. The Geyad-1X discovery in May 2009 tested 2,809 b/d and 3.04 MMscfd from a lower zone and 1,174 b/d and 1.324 MMscfd from an upper zone.
Production of 2,250 b/d of oil is to rise to 6,000-7,000 b/d with more facilities and gas commercialization is under study.
Somalia-Kenya
Raytec Metals Corp. took a farmout from Africa Oil Corp. that covers blocks in Somalia's Puntland state and Kenya. Both are based in Vancouver, BC.
Raytec will pay a disproportionate share of costs of planned work programs in 2009-10.
The agreement covers a 15% interest in the Nogal and Dharoor production-sharing agreements in Somalia. The Nogal block is in the Nogal basin, and the Dharoor block is in the Al Medo basin.
It also covers a 10% interest in Block 9, a 25% interest in Block 10A, and a 20% interest in Block 10BB in Kenya. The blocks are in and west of the northern Anza basin.
