Mozambique Rovuma wildcat is gas discovery

Alan Petzet
OGJ Chief Editor-Exploration
HOUSTON, Feb. 18 – The Windjammer deepwater exploration well in the frontier Rovuma basin off Mozambique cut more than 480 net ft of natural gas pay in high-quality reservoir sands with 4,100 ft remaining to be drilled.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., operator of the discovery, said the net gas pay lies within a gross column of more than 1,200 ft. The well is at intermediate casing point of about 14,000 ft and is projected to 18,100 ft.

So far, the well has tested one of the seven identified play types in Anadarko’s operated acreage off Mozambique, and the results are a strong indication of the basin’s potential, Anadarko said.

Windjammer is in Offshore Area 1 in 4,800 ft of water in the Mozambique Channel 30 miles east of Mozambique’s coast and slightly farther south of the border with Tanzania. After testing deeper objectives, Anadarko plans to move the Bedford Dolphin drillship to its Collier prospect about 50 miles south-southeast on the block.

The Anadarko-led group will drill two to four more wildcats in the basin this year. It will use results from Windjammer and Collier to determine which prospects are drilled next.

Interests in the well are Anadarko 43%, BPRL Ventures Mozambique BV 11.75%, Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore Ltd. 10%, Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Ltd. 23.5%, Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Ltd. 11.75%. Mozambique’s Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos’ 15% interest was carried through the exploration phase.