BP drilling campaign confirms potential of gas resources offshore Mauritania and Senegal
BP will conduct further appraisal drilling offshore Mauritania and Senegal to help inform future development decisions after the company’s recent three-well drilling campaign further confirmed the scale of the gas resource in the region, the company said.
Three appraisal wells drilled this year, GTA-1, Yakaar-2, and Orca-1, targeted a total of nine hydrocarbon-bearing zones. The wells encountered gas in high quality reservoirs in all nine zones (OGJ Online, Sept. 22, 2019; Oct. 28, 2019).
The wells were the first in the region to be operated by BP. In total, the wells encountered 160 m of net pay. The overall drilling campaign was delivered 40 days ahead of schedule and $30 million under budget.
Most recently, in November, Orca-1 well in Block C8 offshore Mauritania, encountered all five of the gas sands originally targeted. The well was then further deepened to reach an additional target, which also encountered gas.
The result “proves that our seismic data is identifying hydrocarbon reservoirs deeper than we had previously thought,” said Howard Leach, head of exploration. “We have identified a large prospective area with considerable resource potential in Southern Mauritania.”
The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Phase 1 development was sanctioned in December 2018. The successful results of Yakaar-2 and Orca-1 could underpin future developments, including a possible new development in Yakaar-Teranga in Senegal and in the Bir Allah/Orca area in Southern Mauritania. The timings of both potential future developments will depend on the level of appraisal required, supporting commercial development plans, and integrated gas master plans in the host nations.
BP holds 62% interest in Block C8 in Mauritania. Partners are Kosmos Energy (28%) and Société Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier (SMHPM, 10%). BP holds 60% interest in the Cayar Profond block (which includes Yakaar-2) in Senegal. Partners are Kosmos Energy (30%) and Petrosen (10%). BP's partners in the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim unit are Kosmos Energy, SMHPM, and Petrosen.