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Kenya Block L-5
Pomboo-1 Drilling Result
Woodside Petroleum Ltd. reports that the Pomboo-1 exploration well in Block L-5 of the offshore Lamu Basin in Kenya has reached a total depth of 4887 metres.
After running a full suite of logging tools, Woodside has confirmed the absence of hydrocarbons in the primary target zone between 4685 metres and total depth. The well encountered in excess of 200 metres of moderate to good quality reservoir sandstones.
The well is about 350 km north-east of Mombasa in 2200 metres of water. The drillship, "Chikyu", is preparing to plug and abandon the well.
All reported depths (except water depth) are referenced to the rig rotary table.
The joint venturers are : Woodside Energy (Kenya) Pty Ltd 30% and operator; Repsol Exploracion S. A. 20%; Global Petroleum Ltd 20% and Dana Petroleum (E& P) Ltd 30%.
Despite these results we at National Oil are committed as ever in promoting Kenyan acreage to oil explorers and ensuring Kenyans are kept well informed of our oil exploration status at all times.
Dr. Agu Kanstler, the Director of Exploration and New Ventures of Woodside Energy, showed that the well was drilled to a total depth of 4887 Km. The well was plugged and abandoned after tessts show that it is a dry well. Woodside Energy will undertake more geological and geochemical studies from the results of the well to understand the basin before conducting more drilling in the basin.
After seismic study in Lamu, new company says it can also extract gas.
Kenya's hopes of striking oil along the Indian Ocean were revived yesterday when another Australian company indicated that it could extract not only the energy resource, but also gas. Origin Energy, which was granted rights to explore oil and gas in blocks L8 and L9 off the Kenyan coast and had conducted a marine seismic survey on the Lamu coastal strip, told a meeting in Mombasa that there were chances of striking oil.
This comes after another Australian firm, Woodside, left the country after failing to strike oil. The rights were granted in a contract which required the company to conduct a seismic survey as part of its agreement with the Ministry of Energy.
The company's exploration manager, Mr. Greg Pass, said results of a survey conducted early this year in Lamu would be released by June, but was optimistic that they would be positive.
"Origin Energy operates the exploration activities in these blocks on behalf of a joint venture which includes Pancontinental Oil, Gas NL and Afrex Limited. The seismic study covers an area off the coast between Malindi and Mombasa. Mr Pass said they covered 3,621 kilometres of a significant geological area using a specialist sesimic vessel called the Northern Explorer.
The vessel is owned by Dubai-based Seabird Exploration. "A seismic survey is used to map the structure of sedimentary rocks below the seabed. It does not involve any drilling and the vessel does not conduct any fishing activities," he said.
Petrol Demand
Oil consumption in East Africa stands at over 32 million barrels per year, while demand for petroleum in the world market is above 82.5 million barrels daily. Representatives from the National Oil Corporation of Kenya, Kenya Fisheries Department, National Environmental Management Authority, Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute attended the meeting. Others were from Kenya Navy, Kenya Port and Maritime authorities.
Five Australian companies have formed an alliance to acquire collectively blocks for oil and gas exploration focusing initially on East Africa in the continent. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by Adelphi Energy Ltd, ARC Energy Ltd, Baraka Petroleum Ltd Advanced Well Technologies Pty Ltd, and Beach Petroleum Ltd. Baraka’s General Manager Dr Mark Fenton said in an e-mail sent from Australia the MOU allows the firms to pool resources in seeking, evaluating and acquiring high value projects. “The companies have signed the MOU to pool resources, seek, evaluate and acquire high value oil and gas exploration blocks in Kenya among others countries in East Africa initially,” he said. He said creation of the alliance would allow the firms to jointly acquire projects of a big magnitude in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania as the East Africa region is emerging as a frontier for exploration. “This alliance has been formed to allow the group to punch well above the sum of the individual companies collective weight. It represents a unique opportunity to increase size of deals," he said. Dr Fenton said the alliance would reduce overall risk levels and the pooling of complementary resources to ensure the most efficient use of each company's financial and human resources. He said a successful exploration strategy in Africa requires deep pockets and patience given the cost profile and relatively long periods of for new oil and gas projects to full production stage. “This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by Adelphi Energy Ltd, ARC Energy Ltd, Baraka Petroleum Ltd Advanced Well Technologies Pty Ltd, and Beach Petroleum Ltd. Baraka’s General Manager Dr Mark Fenton said in an e-mail sent from Australia the MOU allows the firms to pool resources in seeking, evaluating and acquiring high value projects. “The companies have signed the MOU to pool resources, seek, evaluate and acquire high value oil and gas exploration blocks in Kenya among others countries in East Africa initially,” he said. He said creation of the alliance would allow the firms to jointly acquire projects of a big magnitude in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania as the East Africa region is emerging as a frontier for exploration. “This alliance has been formed to allow the group to punch well above the sum of the individual companies collective weight. It represents a unique opportunity to increase size of deals," he said. Dr Fenton said the alliance would reduce overall risk levels and the pooling of complementary resources to ensure the most efficient use of each company's financial and human resources. He said a successful exploration strategy in Africa requires deep pockets and patience given the cost profile and relatively long periods of for new oil and gas projects to full production stage. “This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
Baraka’s General Manager Dr Mark Fenton said in an e-mail sent from Australia the MOU allows the firms to pool resources in seeking, evaluating and acquiring high value projects. “The companies have signed the MOU to pool resources, seek, evaluate and acquire high value oil and gas exploration blocks in Kenya among others countries in East Africa initially,” he said. He said creation of the alliance would allow the firms to jointly acquire projects of a big magnitude in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania as the East Africa region is emerging as a frontier for exploration. “This alliance has been formed to allow the group to punch well above the sum of the individual companies collective weight. It represents a unique opportunity to increase size of deals," he said. Dr Fenton said the alliance would reduce overall risk levels and the pooling of complementary resources to ensure the most efficient use of each company's financial and human resources. He said a successful exploration strategy in Africa requires deep pockets and patience given the cost profile and relatively long periods of for new oil and gas projects to full production stage. “This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
“The companies have signed the MOU to pool resources, seek, evaluate and acquire high value oil and gas exploration blocks in Kenya among others countries in East Africa initially,” he said. He said creation of the alliance would allow the firms to jointly acquire projects of a big magnitude in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania as the East Africa region is emerging as a frontier for exploration. “This alliance has been formed to allow the group to punch well above the sum of the individual companies collective weight. It represents a unique opportunity to increase size of deals," he said. Dr Fenton said the alliance would reduce overall risk levels and the pooling of complementary resources to ensure the most efficient use of each company's financial and human resources. He said a successful exploration strategy in Africa requires deep pockets and patience given the cost profile and relatively long periods of for new oil and gas projects to full production stage. “This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
“This alliance has been formed to allow the group to punch well above the sum of the individual companies collective weight. It represents a unique opportunity to increase size of deals," he said. Dr Fenton said the alliance would reduce overall risk levels and the pooling of complementary resources to ensure the most efficient use of each company's financial and human resources. He said a successful exploration strategy in Africa requires deep pockets and patience given the cost profile and relatively long periods of for new oil and gas projects to full production stage. “This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
Dr Fenton said the alliance would reduce overall risk levels and the pooling of complementary resources to ensure the most efficient use of each company's financial and human resources. He said a successful exploration strategy in Africa requires deep pockets and patience given the cost profile and relatively long periods of for new oil and gas projects to full production stage. “This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
He said a successful exploration strategy in Africa requires deep pockets and patience given the cost profile and relatively long periods of for new oil and gas projects to full production stage. “This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
“This provides challenges for small exploration companies which can best be tackled as part of a larger group but still offering exceptional leverage to our respective shareholders on basis of type of opportunities that will be targeted by the alliance,”he said. He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
He said for each new project considered, members of the alliance who chose to participate would enter into confidentiality and non-compete agreement as well as a joint evaluation agreement. He said a flexible arrangement had been worked on whereby parties share costs throughout various stages of evaluation and negotiation and can choose to discontinue at agreed points. He said a variety of projects including production, rejuvenation, development, near field exploration and frontier exploration are likely to be considered by the alliance members. “This is not a joint venture agreement or formal partnership. It is wise for us to take a collective view on the evaluation and potential development of certain opportunities,” Dr Fenton said.
Companies involved in the search have already spent over Sh3bn. Kenya's long search for oil will finally get a serious boost when drilling of the first well begins off the coast of Lamu in December, the Nation learnt yesterday. An official of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (Nock), who confirmed the development, said the British-Australian consortium involved had acquired a deep-water drilling vessel as part of preparations to start exploration. "We expect the drilling of the first exploration well, which is among two to be drilled in the Lamu basin, to start towards the last quarter of the year," the Nock official said. Environment The British-Australian consortium comprises of Australia’s Woodside Energy and Global Petroleum and Britain ’s Dana Petroleum. Environmentalists and communities in Lamu have, however, demanded that an environmental impact assessment be done by the National Environmental Management Authority before drilling begins, citing the region's delicate marine ecosystem. Nock has already indicated that all environmental issues raised by conservationists and local residents will be addressed. Industry players said Woodside had identified 50 sites with good prospects, a number of which were capable of holding several hundred million to a billion barrels of recoverable oil. The oil firms are said to have identified Kenya as an under-explored frontier with significant potential, regarding it as the most prospective part of East Africa , with several large geological structures. According to the Nock official, the firms will drill the first off-shore well in blocks L5 and L7, which they have targeted for exploration. Global Petroleum holds 20 per cent equity in the joint venture. Woodside Energy, through local subsidiary Woodside Energy ( Kenya ), has 50 per cent and Dana Petroleum 30 per cent. According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
"We expect the drilling of the first exploration well, which is among two to be drilled in the Lamu basin, to start towards the last quarter of the year," the Nock official said. Environment The British-Australian consortium comprises of Australia’s Woodside Energy and Global Petroleum and Britain ’s Dana Petroleum. Environmentalists and communities in Lamu have, however, demanded that an environmental impact assessment be done by the National Environmental Management Authority before drilling begins, citing the region's delicate marine ecosystem. Nock has already indicated that all environmental issues raised by conservationists and local residents will be addressed. Industry players said Woodside had identified 50 sites with good prospects, a number of which were capable of holding several hundred million to a billion barrels of recoverable oil. The oil firms are said to have identified Kenya as an under-explored frontier with significant potential, regarding it as the most prospective part of East Africa , with several large geological structures. According to the Nock official, the firms will drill the first off-shore well in blocks L5 and L7, which they have targeted for exploration. Global Petroleum holds 20 per cent equity in the joint venture. Woodside Energy, through local subsidiary Woodside Energy ( Kenya ), has 50 per cent and Dana Petroleum 30 per cent. According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
Environment The British-Australian consortium comprises of Australia’s Woodside Energy and Global Petroleum and Britain ’s Dana Petroleum. Environmentalists and communities in Lamu have, however, demanded that an environmental impact assessment be done by the National Environmental Management Authority before drilling begins, citing the region's delicate marine ecosystem. Nock has already indicated that all environmental issues raised by conservationists and local residents will be addressed. Industry players said Woodside had identified 50 sites with good prospects, a number of which were capable of holding several hundred million to a billion barrels of recoverable oil. The oil firms are said to have identified Kenya as an under-explored frontier with significant potential, regarding it as the most prospective part of East Africa , with several large geological structures. According to the Nock official, the firms will drill the first off-shore well in blocks L5 and L7, which they have targeted for exploration. Global Petroleum holds 20 per cent equity in the joint venture. Woodside Energy, through local subsidiary Woodside Energy ( Kenya ), has 50 per cent and Dana Petroleum 30 per cent. According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
The British-Australian consortium comprises of Australia’s Woodside Energy and Global Petroleum and Britain ’s Dana Petroleum. Environmentalists and communities in Lamu have, however, demanded that an environmental impact assessment be done by the National Environmental Management Authority before drilling begins, citing the region's delicate marine ecosystem. Nock has already indicated that all environmental issues raised by conservationists and local residents will be addressed. Industry players said Woodside had identified 50 sites with good prospects, a number of which were capable of holding several hundred million to a billion barrels of recoverable oil. The oil firms are said to have identified Kenya as an under-explored frontier with significant potential, regarding it as the most prospective part of East Africa , with several large geological structures. According to the Nock official, the firms will drill the first off-shore well in blocks L5 and L7, which they have targeted for exploration. Global Petroleum holds 20 per cent equity in the joint venture. Woodside Energy, through local subsidiary Woodside Energy ( Kenya ), has 50 per cent and Dana Petroleum 30 per cent. According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
Environmentalists and communities in Lamu have, however, demanded that an environmental impact assessment be done by the National Environmental Management Authority before drilling begins, citing the region's delicate marine ecosystem. Nock has already indicated that all environmental issues raised by conservationists and local residents will be addressed. Industry players said Woodside had identified 50 sites with good prospects, a number of which were capable of holding several hundred million to a billion barrels of recoverable oil. The oil firms are said to have identified Kenya as an under-explored frontier with significant potential, regarding it as the most prospective part of East Africa , with several large geological structures. According to the Nock official, the firms will drill the first off-shore well in blocks L5 and L7, which they have targeted for exploration. Global Petroleum holds 20 per cent equity in the joint venture. Woodside Energy, through local subsidiary Woodside Energy ( Kenya ), has 50 per cent and Dana Petroleum 30 per cent. According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
Industry players said Woodside had identified 50 sites with good prospects, a number of which were capable of holding several hundred million to a billion barrels of recoverable oil. The oil firms are said to have identified Kenya as an under-explored frontier with significant potential, regarding it as the most prospective part of East Africa , with several large geological structures. According to the Nock official, the firms will drill the first off-shore well in blocks L5 and L7, which they have targeted for exploration. Global Petroleum holds 20 per cent equity in the joint venture. Woodside Energy, through local subsidiary Woodside Energy ( Kenya ), has 50 per cent and Dana Petroleum 30 per cent. According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
The oil firms are said to have identified Kenya as an under-explored frontier with significant potential, regarding it as the most prospective part of East Africa , with several large geological structures. According to the Nock official, the firms will drill the first off-shore well in blocks L5 and L7, which they have targeted for exploration. Global Petroleum holds 20 per cent equity in the joint venture. Woodside Energy, through local subsidiary Woodside Energy ( Kenya ), has 50 per cent and Dana Petroleum 30 per cent. According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
According to Global Petroleum, the board of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) – owners of the deep water drilling vessel – has approved the rig contract with Woodside. The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
The consortium is expected to drill the second well before June, 2008. The firms involved in the search are said to have spent more than Sh3 billion ($45 million) since they started prospecting. Norwegian oil prospecting vessels have been searching for oil along the Kenyan coast since 2002. The latest search was conducted by MV Polar Duke, which finalised its work last January before data from the search were sent for analysis both locally and abroad. The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
The search vessels are equipped to conduct seismic surveys to establish if there are oil deposits along the Kenyan coast. Local oil deposits would dramatically reduce Kenya ’s crippling oil imports bill, which currently stands at over $750 million. Meanwhile Mobil Oil Kenya yesterday urged the Government to zero-rate taxes on liquefied petroleum (LPG) cylinders and other accessories in this year’s budget. Mobil’s managing director, Robert Paterson, said zero-rating taxes on LPG cylinders and other accessories would promote use of gas to help reduce loss of forest cover.
An Australian company will start oil exploration at the Kenyan coast in October, the managing director of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mrs Mary M'Mukindia, has said. Mrs M'Mukindia said Woodside Energy, Australia 's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, had been licensed to do the job. She allayed fears that oil exploration would adversely affect agricultural, fisheries and tourism activities, saying drilling would be done at a site 75 to 80 nautical miles offshore where there was no human activity. Mrs M'Mukindia, who was addressing a seminar at a Malindi hotel yesterday, dismissed claims that oil had already been struck in Lamu and that the extraction would soon follow. She said that oil extraction would possible at least five years from the initial exploration. "So far, no commercial quantities of petroleum have been confirmed anywhere in Kenya ," she told the participants, who included the Lamu district executive committee members. Mrs M'Mukindia said the drilling would be carried out by a state-of-the-art drilling vessel and by highly skilled workers. "The vessel will remain offshore and will not enter any Kenyan port. It will be serviced by helicopters and supply ships from Mombasa, where the operations will be based because it is the only port with appropriate facilities," she said. She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
Mrs M'Mukindia said Woodside Energy, Australia 's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, had been licensed to do the job. She allayed fears that oil exploration would adversely affect agricultural, fisheries and tourism activities, saying drilling would be done at a site 75 to 80 nautical miles offshore where there was no human activity. Mrs M'Mukindia, who was addressing a seminar at a Malindi hotel yesterday, dismissed claims that oil had already been struck in Lamu and that the extraction would soon follow. She said that oil extraction would possible at least five years from the initial exploration. "So far, no commercial quantities of petroleum have been confirmed anywhere in Kenya ," she told the participants, who included the Lamu district executive committee members. Mrs M'Mukindia said the drilling would be carried out by a state-of-the-art drilling vessel and by highly skilled workers. "The vessel will remain offshore and will not enter any Kenyan port. It will be serviced by helicopters and supply ships from Mombasa, where the operations will be based because it is the only port with appropriate facilities," she said. She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
She allayed fears that oil exploration would adversely affect agricultural, fisheries and tourism activities, saying drilling would be done at a site 75 to 80 nautical miles offshore where there was no human activity. Mrs M'Mukindia, who was addressing a seminar at a Malindi hotel yesterday, dismissed claims that oil had already been struck in Lamu and that the extraction would soon follow. She said that oil extraction would possible at least five years from the initial exploration. "So far, no commercial quantities of petroleum have been confirmed anywhere in Kenya ," she told the participants, who included the Lamu district executive committee members. Mrs M'Mukindia said the drilling would be carried out by a state-of-the-art drilling vessel and by highly skilled workers. "The vessel will remain offshore and will not enter any Kenyan port. It will be serviced by helicopters and supply ships from Mombasa, where the operations will be based because it is the only port with appropriate facilities," she said. She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
Mrs M'Mukindia, who was addressing a seminar at a Malindi hotel yesterday, dismissed claims that oil had already been struck in Lamu and that the extraction would soon follow. She said that oil extraction would possible at least five years from the initial exploration. "So far, no commercial quantities of petroleum have been confirmed anywhere in Kenya ," she told the participants, who included the Lamu district executive committee members. Mrs M'Mukindia said the drilling would be carried out by a state-of-the-art drilling vessel and by highly skilled workers. "The vessel will remain offshore and will not enter any Kenyan port. It will be serviced by helicopters and supply ships from Mombasa, where the operations will be based because it is the only port with appropriate facilities," she said. She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
She said that oil extraction would possible at least five years from the initial exploration. "So far, no commercial quantities of petroleum have been confirmed anywhere in Kenya ," she told the participants, who included the Lamu district executive committee members. Mrs M'Mukindia said the drilling would be carried out by a state-of-the-art drilling vessel and by highly skilled workers. "The vessel will remain offshore and will not enter any Kenyan port. It will be serviced by helicopters and supply ships from Mombasa, where the operations will be based because it is the only port with appropriate facilities," she said. She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
Mrs M'Mukindia said the drilling would be carried out by a state-of-the-art drilling vessel and by highly skilled workers. "The vessel will remain offshore and will not enter any Kenyan port. It will be serviced by helicopters and supply ships from Mombasa, where the operations will be based because it is the only port with appropriate facilities," she said. She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
"The vessel will remain offshore and will not enter any Kenyan port. It will be serviced by helicopters and supply ships from Mombasa, where the operations will be based because it is the only port with appropriate facilities," she said. She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
She said that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment would be carried out before the drilling starts in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. "Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
"Woodside Energy has a very good environmental record and it is complying with all government environmental requirements," she said. "It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
"It has submitted a report plan to the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) which must approve this before operations can commence." Yesterday's workshop was the start of a communication strategy initiated by NOC to give accurate information on the situation. Lamu district commisioner Nkoidila ole Lankas said oil exploration was a large project and called for support from all the stakeholders. (KNA)
One of the biggest issues concerns the project's impact on the environment, with fears that if no proper assessment is done, it could spell doom for the areas economy. National Environmental Management Authority has carried out an environmental impact assessment and have given the project a clean bill of health, but lobby groups are calling for international organizations to corroborate NEMA's report. Besides the exploration will be done following strict international standards that will not allow for any spillage into the sea. The issue is that NEMA is a government organ that cannot be trusted with a project of this magnitude partly because it might takes sides with the prospectors who have already signed an exploration agreement with the Government said Mr. Ali Shebwana the Co-ordinator of the Kenya Marine Forum, Kiunga. Earlier there were calls by the World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF) regional representative Dr. Kwame Korateng for a comprehensive strategic environmental impact assessment whose purpose is not to stop the exploration of oil but to help take measures to ensure that things are done in the right way for safety. However, Lamu County Council Chairman Omar Famau and Councillors Abdalla Baabad of Kiunga Ward and Mohammed Athman of Shela/ Manda told international organizations to steer clear of issue. Mr. Famau said the people of Lamu were only interested in knowing what they will gain from the deal. But Mr. Mohammed Mbwana, the Chairman of Shungwaya Welfare Association, an organization fighting for land rights in the area supported the intervention of international organizations saying benefits from the oil had to be well spelt out. The residents want the international community to ensure the people are not short-changed once Woodside strikes oil. Daily Nation/ Tuesday 29 August 2006
However, Lamu County Council Chairman Omar Famau and Councillors Abdalla Baabad of Kiunga Ward and Mohammed Athman of Shela/ Manda told international organizations to steer clear of issue. Mr. Famau said the people of Lamu were only interested in knowing what they will gain from the deal. But Mr. Mohammed Mbwana, the Chairman of Shungwaya Welfare Association, an organization fighting for land rights in the area supported the intervention of international organizations saying benefits from the oil had to be well spelt out. The residents want the international community to ensure the people are not short-changed once Woodside strikes oil. Daily Nation/ Tuesday 29 August 2006
But Mr. Mohammed Mbwana, the Chairman of Shungwaya Welfare Association, an organization fighting for land rights in the area supported the intervention of international organizations saying benefits from the oil had to be well spelt out. The residents want the international community to ensure the people are not short-changed once Woodside strikes oil. Daily Nation/ Tuesday 29 August 2006
The residents want the international community to ensure the people are not short-changed once Woodside strikes oil. Daily Nation/ Tuesday 29 August 2006
Daily Nation/ Tuesday 29 August 2006
Kenya saw another confirmation of the growing interest in its oil and gas potential when Gippsland Offshore Petroleum Limited farmed-in to Pancontinental's L-6. The L-6 block is located offshore the East African country in the Lamu Basin where a Woodside led venture holds rights to neighbouring blocks and is expected to begin drilling during this quarter. Under the farm-in agreement Gippsland will earn a 60% stake in the L-6 block by conducting 2-D seismic, airborne gravity, and possibly geochemical acquisition programs before the end of February 2007. The company is also required to pay all permit fees and other associated costs during the earning period. Pancontinental will retain a 40% stake after a free carry through the earning program. The acquisition of the new offshore 2-D seismic, airborne gravity gradiometry, and geochemical data will commence within the 4,918 sq km L-6 area upon ratification of the agreement by the Kenyan Government, the contracting of a seismic vessel, and suitable weather conditions. The $1.9 million programs will determine the viability of a number of significant prospects delineated by the 2003 and earlier seismic surveys. These prospects, based on current mapping and representative reservoirparametersusing industry analogues, are estimated to have significant, speculative oil and gas reserves potential. Pancontinental's CEO Andrew Svalbe said, "Pancontinental is very pleased to have negotiated an Agreement with Gippsland which also has proprietary access to the BHP Biliton FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer system. The combination of the FALCON gradiometer data in the onshore and shallow water near shore areas, which are 27% of the block, together with the 2-D seismic data in the deeper water offshore areas will accelerate the evaluation and definition of prospects within the L-6 block. This work will be parallel with the Origin operated, December 2005 farm-in earning obligation detail and infill 2-D seismic surveys in the adjoining Pancontinental L-8 and L-9 blocks, and the drilling of two exploration wells by Woodside in the adjacent L-5 and L-7 blocks in the last quarter of 2006. The Agreement with Gippsland further supports the view that the Kenyan asset, with its high petroleum prospectivity, attractive Government commercial terms, proximity to the Kenyan and growing East African energy markets, is a high quality component of our exploration portfolio."
Under the farm-in agreement Gippsland will earn a 60% stake in the L-6 block by conducting 2-D seismic, airborne gravity, and possibly geochemical acquisition programs before the end of February 2007. The company is also required to pay all permit fees and other associated costs during the earning period. Pancontinental will retain a 40% stake after a free carry through the earning program. The acquisition of the new offshore 2-D seismic, airborne gravity gradiometry, and geochemical data will commence within the 4,918 sq km L-6 area upon ratification of the agreement by the Kenyan Government, the contracting of a seismic vessel, and suitable weather conditions. The $1.9 million programs will determine the viability of a number of significant prospects delineated by the 2003 and earlier seismic surveys. These prospects, based on current mapping and representative reservoirparametersusing industry analogues, are estimated to have significant, speculative oil and gas reserves potential. Pancontinental's CEO Andrew Svalbe said, "Pancontinental is very pleased to have negotiated an Agreement with Gippsland which also has proprietary access to the BHP Biliton FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer system. The combination of the FALCON gradiometer data in the onshore and shallow water near shore areas, which are 27% of the block, together with the 2-D seismic data in the deeper water offshore areas will accelerate the evaluation and definition of prospects within the L-6 block. This work will be parallel with the Origin operated, December 2005 farm-in earning obligation detail and infill 2-D seismic surveys in the adjoining Pancontinental L-8 and L-9 blocks, and the drilling of two exploration wells by Woodside in the adjacent L-5 and L-7 blocks in the last quarter of 2006. The Agreement with Gippsland further supports the view that the Kenyan asset, with its high petroleum prospectivity, attractive Government commercial terms, proximity to the Kenyan and growing East African energy markets, is a high quality component of our exploration portfolio."
The acquisition of the new offshore 2-D seismic, airborne gravity gradiometry, and geochemical data will commence within the 4,918 sq km L-6 area upon ratification of the agreement by the Kenyan Government, the contracting of a seismic vessel, and suitable weather conditions. The $1.9 million programs will determine the viability of a number of significant prospects delineated by the 2003 and earlier seismic surveys. These prospects, based on current mapping and representative reservoirparametersusing industry analogues, are estimated to have significant, speculative oil and gas reserves potential. Pancontinental's CEO Andrew Svalbe said, "Pancontinental is very pleased to have negotiated an Agreement with Gippsland which also has proprietary access to the BHP Biliton FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer system. The combination of the FALCON gradiometer data in the onshore and shallow water near shore areas, which are 27% of the block, together with the 2-D seismic data in the deeper water offshore areas will accelerate the evaluation and definition of prospects within the L-6 block. This work will be parallel with the Origin operated, December 2005 farm-in earning obligation detail and infill 2-D seismic surveys in the adjoining Pancontinental L-8 and L-9 blocks, and the drilling of two exploration wells by Woodside in the adjacent L-5 and L-7 blocks in the last quarter of 2006. The Agreement with Gippsland further supports the view that the Kenyan asset, with its high petroleum prospectivity, attractive Government commercial terms, proximity to the Kenyan and growing East African energy markets, is a high quality component of our exploration portfolio."
Pancontinental's CEO Andrew Svalbe said, "Pancontinental is very pleased to have negotiated an Agreement with Gippsland which also has proprietary access to the BHP Biliton FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer system. The combination of the FALCON gradiometer data in the onshore and shallow water near shore areas, which are 27% of the block, together with the 2-D seismic data in the deeper water offshore areas will accelerate the evaluation and definition of prospects within the L-6 block. This work will be parallel with the Origin operated, December 2005 farm-in earning obligation detail and infill 2-D seismic surveys in the adjoining Pancontinental L-8 and L-9 blocks, and the drilling of two exploration wells by Woodside in the adjacent L-5 and L-7 blocks in the last quarter of 2006. The Agreement with Gippsland further supports the view that the Kenyan asset, with its high petroleum prospectivity, attractive Government commercial terms, proximity to the Kenyan and growing East African energy markets, is a high quality component of our exploration portfolio."
The Agreement with Gippsland further supports the view that the Kenyan asset, with its high petroleum prospectivity, attractive Government commercial terms, proximity to the Kenyan and growing East African energy markets, is a high quality component of our exploration portfolio."
President Mwai Kibaki announced that oil exploration off the coast of Lamu begins in November or December despite the high retail prices of fuel in the country. Due to this, Kenya is pushing to reduce dependence on fuel imports as industry players meet with government officials over high retail prices. The President in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Mr. Moody Awori during the opening of Kenya Pipeline Company's new headquarters also expressed concern of the high retail prices for petroleum products which despite the price of crude oil having fallen in the last two months local petroleum product dealers have however, stuck with the same average retail price of KShs. 85.69. The President hoped that oil marketing companies will pass the benefits of lower international prices to local consumers.
The President in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Mr. Moody Awori during the opening of Kenya Pipeline Company's new headquarters also expressed concern of the high retail prices for petroleum products which despite the price of crude oil having fallen in the last two months local petroleum product dealers have however, stuck with the same average retail price of KShs. 85.69. The President hoped that oil marketing companies will pass the benefits of lower international prices to local consumers.
The President hoped that oil marketing companies will pass the benefits of lower international prices to local consumers.
Of late, the oil industry has witnessed a lot of frenetic activity by way of acquisitions and the spat with consumers and the Government over high retail prices. Amidst all this heat and smoke it is possible that one of the most important developments in the business in recent times may have been overlooked. Off the coast at Lamu, Kenya ’s quest for its own oil is entering a definitive stage. A consortium operating under the banner of Woodside, an Australian firm, has been granted rights to drill for oil in an offshore operation. It is a first for Kenya. Such ventures have in the past been confined to inland blocks in the northern and eastern parts of the country. The drilling will be done from a specially-built Japanese ship and already the buzz in the industry is that Kenya might just be lucky. Seismic data would seem to support the prospector’s zeal. Of course many Kenyans will dismiss this with a typical “we heard that before” shrug. On the other hand, there are those who might argue that perhaps we are better off without it.
It is a first for Kenya. Such ventures have in the past been confined to inland blocks in the northern and eastern parts of the country. The drilling will be done from a specially-built Japanese ship and already the buzz in the industry is that Kenya might just be lucky. Seismic data would seem to support the prospector’s zeal. Of course many Kenyans will dismiss this with a typical “we heard that before” shrug. On the other hand, there are those who might argue that perhaps we are better off without it.
The drilling will be done from a specially-built Japanese ship and already the buzz in the industry is that Kenya might just be lucky. Seismic data would seem to support the prospector’s zeal. Of course many Kenyans will dismiss this with a typical “we heard that before” shrug. On the other hand, there are those who might argue that perhaps we are better off without it.
Of course many Kenyans will dismiss this with a typical “we heard that before” shrug. On the other hand, there are those who might argue that perhaps we are better off without it.
A Consortium prospecting for oil off the Kenyan Coast says its mapping and seismic surveys have identified more than 3 prospects and leads, a number of which are capable of holding up to a billion barrels of recoverable oil. Drilling of the first oil exploration wells, about 135 km away from the main land of Lamu , begins in a month’s time. An advance supplies ship, Mv Thor Hanne, docked in Mombasa last week, and more supplies are expected. Australia-based oil and gas exploration and production company, Woodside Energy Ltd in a joint venture with Dana, Repsol and Global Petroleum are scheduled to begin conducting the drilling. There is positive confirmation from the explorers, who say that the Kenya acreage has the potential to become a significant oil region, the consortium says. According to Woodside who are the lead investors and who are conducting the actual drilling, there are Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators (DHI: potential oil and gas indicator) on some of the leads. The first prospect to be drilled is likely to be Pomboo in Block L-5, and the second possibly Sokwe in Block L-7. Both have reservoir objectives in rocks of Cretaceous and Tertiary age, which elsewhere contain a large proportion of the world’s known oil and gas reserves. Drilling will be undertaken using the deepwater drilling vessel Mv Chikyu which has been contracted by Woodside through the Norwegian international drilling contractor, Smedvig on behalf of the Japanese Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). Chikyu would arrive onto the drilling site within ten days with equipments, parts, spare parts and machines for commencement of work. The acquisition of the vessel, also known as the rig, as big as two football pitches, had initially proved difficult. Dr John Armstrong, the executive chairman of Global Petroleum, said that obtaining a rig proved difficult with very high rig usage and long-term rig contracts arising from the strong oil price over the past two years. The venture sees Woodside Energy (Kenya) PTY earning 30 per cent, Dana Petroleum 30 percent and Global 20 per cent and Repsol 20 per cent has scheduled up to two wells to be drilled in Blocks L-5, christened Pomboo.
Drilling of the first oil exploration wells, about 135 km away from the main land of Lamu , begins in a month’s time. An advance supplies ship, Mv Thor Hanne, docked in Mombasa last week, and more supplies are expected. Australia-based oil and gas exploration and production company, Woodside Energy Ltd in a joint venture with Dana, Repsol and Global Petroleum are scheduled to begin conducting the drilling. There is positive confirmation from the explorers, who say that the Kenya acreage has the potential to become a significant oil region, the consortium says. According to Woodside who are the lead investors and who are conducting the actual drilling, there are Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators (DHI: potential oil and gas indicator) on some of the leads. The first prospect to be drilled is likely to be Pomboo in Block L-5, and the second possibly Sokwe in Block L-7. Both have reservoir objectives in rocks of Cretaceous and Tertiary age, which elsewhere contain a large proportion of the world’s known oil and gas reserves. Drilling will be undertaken using the deepwater drilling vessel Mv Chikyu which has been contracted by Woodside through the Norwegian international drilling contractor, Smedvig on behalf of the Japanese Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). Chikyu would arrive onto the drilling site within ten days with equipments, parts, spare parts and machines for commencement of work. The acquisition of the vessel, also known as the rig, as big as two football pitches, had initially proved difficult. Dr John Armstrong, the executive chairman of Global Petroleum, said that obtaining a rig proved difficult with very high rig usage and long-term rig contracts arising from the strong oil price over the past two years. The venture sees Woodside Energy (Kenya) PTY earning 30 per cent, Dana Petroleum 30 percent and Global 20 per cent and Repsol 20 per cent has scheduled up to two wells to be drilled in Blocks L-5, christened Pomboo.
Australia-based oil and gas exploration and production company, Woodside Energy Ltd in a joint venture with Dana, Repsol and Global Petroleum are scheduled to begin conducting the drilling. There is positive confirmation from the explorers, who say that the Kenya acreage has the potential to become a significant oil region, the consortium says. According to Woodside who are the lead investors and who are conducting the actual drilling, there are Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators (DHI: potential oil and gas indicator) on some of the leads. The first prospect to be drilled is likely to be Pomboo in Block L-5, and the second possibly Sokwe in Block L-7. Both have reservoir objectives in rocks of Cretaceous and Tertiary age, which elsewhere contain a large proportion of the world’s known oil and gas reserves. Drilling will be undertaken using the deepwater drilling vessel Mv Chikyu which has been contracted by Woodside through the Norwegian international drilling contractor, Smedvig on behalf of the Japanese Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). Chikyu would arrive onto the drilling site within ten days with equipments, parts, spare parts and machines for commencement of work. The acquisition of the vessel, also known as the rig, as big as two football pitches, had initially proved difficult. Dr John Armstrong, the executive chairman of Global Petroleum, said that obtaining a rig proved difficult with very high rig usage and long-term rig contracts arising from the strong oil price over the past two years. The venture sees Woodside Energy (Kenya) PTY earning 30 per cent, Dana Petroleum 30 percent and Global 20 per cent and Repsol 20 per cent has scheduled up to two wells to be drilled in Blocks L-5, christened Pomboo.
Drilling will be undertaken using the deepwater drilling vessel Mv Chikyu which has been contracted by Woodside through the Norwegian international drilling contractor, Smedvig on behalf of the Japanese Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). Chikyu would arrive onto the drilling site within ten days with equipments, parts, spare parts and machines for commencement of work. The acquisition of the vessel, also known as the rig, as big as two football pitches, had initially proved difficult. Dr John Armstrong, the executive chairman of Global Petroleum, said that obtaining a rig proved difficult with very high rig usage and long-term rig contracts arising from the strong oil price over the past two years. The venture sees Woodside Energy (Kenya) PTY earning 30 per cent, Dana Petroleum 30 percent and Global 20 per cent and Repsol 20 per cent has scheduled up to two wells to be drilled in Blocks L-5, christened Pomboo.
The acquisition of the vessel, also known as the rig, as big as two football pitches, had initially proved difficult. Dr John Armstrong, the executive chairman of Global Petroleum, said that obtaining a rig proved difficult with very high rig usage and long-term rig contracts arising from the strong oil price over the past two years. The venture sees Woodside Energy (Kenya) PTY earning 30 per cent, Dana Petroleum 30 percent and Global 20 per cent and Repsol 20 per cent has scheduled up to two wells to be drilled in Blocks L-5, christened Pomboo.
Dr John Armstrong, the executive chairman of Global Petroleum, said that obtaining a rig proved difficult with very high rig usage and long-term rig contracts arising from the strong oil price over the past two years. The venture sees Woodside Energy (Kenya) PTY earning 30 per cent, Dana Petroleum 30 percent and Global 20 per cent and Repsol 20 per cent has scheduled up to two wells to be drilled in Blocks L-5, christened Pomboo.
The venture sees Woodside Energy (Kenya) PTY earning 30 per cent, Dana Petroleum 30 percent and Global 20 per cent and Repsol 20 per cent has scheduled up to two wells to be drilled in Blocks L-5, christened Pomboo.
Oil exploration off the Kenyan Coast is poised to gather momentum after the Government approved composition in one of the prospecting consortiums. The state approved changes in ownership in the Pancontinental Oil & Gas NL and Afrex Consortium the holders of oil exploration permits for blocks L8 and L9 in the Lamu basin. The move paves way for an Australian company, Origin Energy, a subsidiary of Origin Energy Resources, to replace Woodside Energy, which withdrew from the consortium in 2004. This means that Origin Energy Kenya would acquire 75 per cent of the stake in the consortium. The Origin Energy Executive General Manager in charge of Exploration said in a statement that the company is negotiating with a Dubai Firm, Seabird Exploration FZ LLC, to hire a vessel to carry out seismic soundings on the two blocks. Woodside Energy is now in a joint venture with Dana, Repsol and Global Petroleum. The consortium is scheduled to start drilling the first oil exploration wells about 135km away from the mainland off Lamu. Woodside Energy has identified more that 30 prospects and leads, a number of which are capable of holding up to a billion barrels of recoverable oil.
The move paves way for an Australian company, Origin Energy, a subsidiary of Origin Energy Resources, to replace Woodside Energy, which withdrew from the consortium in 2004. This means that Origin Energy Kenya would acquire 75 per cent of the stake in the consortium. The Origin Energy Executive General Manager in charge of Exploration said in a statement that the company is negotiating with a Dubai Firm, Seabird Exploration FZ LLC, to hire a vessel to carry out seismic soundings on the two blocks. Woodside Energy is now in a joint venture with Dana, Repsol and Global Petroleum. The consortium is scheduled to start drilling the first oil exploration wells about 135km away from the mainland off Lamu. Woodside Energy has identified more that 30 prospects and leads, a number of which are capable of holding up to a billion barrels of recoverable oil.
Woodside Energy is now in a joint venture with Dana, Repsol and Global Petroleum. The consortium is scheduled to start drilling the first oil exploration wells about 135km away from the mainland off Lamu. Woodside Energy has identified more that 30 prospects and leads, a number of which are capable of holding up to a billion barrels of recoverable oil.
A mineral, petroleum and gas exploration expert, Dr. Bernard Rop, has said there are massive deposits of crude oil in northern Kenya , which could be exploited for local and regional consumption. He said he had carried out a survey around the country and discovered oil deposits in northern Kenya and gold in Western province, parts of South Nyanza and West Pokot . Rop was speaking to the press in Kakamega town yesterday where he urged the Government to contract an international company to mine gold in various parts of Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley provinces. Rop, a former senior exploration manager at National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), noted that the current mining of gold in Kakamega district, particularly Ikolomani division was poor and hazardous since it was conducted by local residents with no expertise, subjecting them to numerous risks. He also stated that mining of the gold on small-scale would be of no or very little impact on the country's economy since the meagre quantity cannot even help improve the miner's economic standards. Said he: "There are massive deposits of gold in Ikolomani, parts of Siaya district, South Nyanza and West Pokot district of the northern Rift Valley which are unexploited due to lack of expertise to explore and mine the mineral on large scale." The expert, who is currently lecturing at the Western University College of Science and Technology (WUSCT), pointed out that though the mining of gold in Ikolomani division sustained a sizeable number of the locals economically, the activity could not be fully exploited unless by a multinational exploration and mining company. Dr Rop stated that the basement, Mozambique metamorphosed rocks rich in gold, were found in the regions, pointing out that districts such as Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale, among others, found under the Anza Basin, contained rocks where oil could be found. Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
Rop was speaking to the press in Kakamega town yesterday where he urged the Government to contract an international company to mine gold in various parts of Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley provinces. Rop, a former senior exploration manager at National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), noted that the current mining of gold in Kakamega district, particularly Ikolomani division was poor and hazardous since it was conducted by local residents with no expertise, subjecting them to numerous risks. He also stated that mining of the gold on small-scale would be of no or very little impact on the country's economy since the meagre quantity cannot even help improve the miner's economic standards. Said he: "There are massive deposits of gold in Ikolomani, parts of Siaya district, South Nyanza and West Pokot district of the northern Rift Valley which are unexploited due to lack of expertise to explore and mine the mineral on large scale." The expert, who is currently lecturing at the Western University College of Science and Technology (WUSCT), pointed out that though the mining of gold in Ikolomani division sustained a sizeable number of the locals economically, the activity could not be fully exploited unless by a multinational exploration and mining company. Dr Rop stated that the basement, Mozambique metamorphosed rocks rich in gold, were found in the regions, pointing out that districts such as Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale, among others, found under the Anza Basin, contained rocks where oil could be found. Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
Rop, a former senior exploration manager at National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), noted that the current mining of gold in Kakamega district, particularly Ikolomani division was poor and hazardous since it was conducted by local residents with no expertise, subjecting them to numerous risks. He also stated that mining of the gold on small-scale would be of no or very little impact on the country's economy since the meagre quantity cannot even help improve the miner's economic standards. Said he: "There are massive deposits of gold in Ikolomani, parts of Siaya district, South Nyanza and West Pokot district of the northern Rift Valley which are unexploited due to lack of expertise to explore and mine the mineral on large scale." The expert, who is currently lecturing at the Western University College of Science and Technology (WUSCT), pointed out that though the mining of gold in Ikolomani division sustained a sizeable number of the locals economically, the activity could not be fully exploited unless by a multinational exploration and mining company. Dr Rop stated that the basement, Mozambique metamorphosed rocks rich in gold, were found in the regions, pointing out that districts such as Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale, among others, found under the Anza Basin, contained rocks where oil could be found. Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
He also stated that mining of the gold on small-scale would be of no or very little impact on the country's economy since the meagre quantity cannot even help improve the miner's economic standards. Said he: "There are massive deposits of gold in Ikolomani, parts of Siaya district, South Nyanza and West Pokot district of the northern Rift Valley which are unexploited due to lack of expertise to explore and mine the mineral on large scale." The expert, who is currently lecturing at the Western University College of Science and Technology (WUSCT), pointed out that though the mining of gold in Ikolomani division sustained a sizeable number of the locals economically, the activity could not be fully exploited unless by a multinational exploration and mining company. Dr Rop stated that the basement, Mozambique metamorphosed rocks rich in gold, were found in the regions, pointing out that districts such as Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale, among others, found under the Anza Basin, contained rocks where oil could be found. Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
Said he: "There are massive deposits of gold in Ikolomani, parts of Siaya district, South Nyanza and West Pokot district of the northern Rift Valley which are unexploited due to lack of expertise to explore and mine the mineral on large scale." The expert, who is currently lecturing at the Western University College of Science and Technology (WUSCT), pointed out that though the mining of gold in Ikolomani division sustained a sizeable number of the locals economically, the activity could not be fully exploited unless by a multinational exploration and mining company. Dr Rop stated that the basement, Mozambique metamorphosed rocks rich in gold, were found in the regions, pointing out that districts such as Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale, among others, found under the Anza Basin, contained rocks where oil could be found. Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
The expert, who is currently lecturing at the Western University College of Science and Technology (WUSCT), pointed out that though the mining of gold in Ikolomani division sustained a sizeable number of the locals economically, the activity could not be fully exploited unless by a multinational exploration and mining company. Dr Rop stated that the basement, Mozambique metamorphosed rocks rich in gold, were found in the regions, pointing out that districts such as Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale, among others, found under the Anza Basin, contained rocks where oil could be found. Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
Dr Rop stated that the basement, Mozambique metamorphosed rocks rich in gold, were found in the regions, pointing out that districts such as Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo and Moyale, among others, found under the Anza Basin, contained rocks where oil could be found. Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
Doctor Rop was the first Kenyan to acquire a PhD in Petroleum Geology and is probably the only one who has such credentials in the country at the moment. He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
He once served as the Western Provincial Geologist between 1991 and 1993 before he moved to NOCK. He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
He, however declared he was ready to co-operate with the Government and work with the Chinese mining and exploration company to ensure that all the oil at the Coast and northern Kenya was drilled.
Equipment to be used in prospective oil drilling off the Lamu Coast has arrived at the Mombasa Port. MV Thor Hanne, a general cargo vessel, docked in at the port after arriving from Singapore on Thursday. Equipment from the ship will be stored at a supply base for the oil drilling rig, Chikyu, which is expected on location 135 km from Lamu next week. Mv Chikyu is one of the largest and most modern oil drilling rigs in the world, and is too large to dock at the port. The Government is preparing to issue a statement on the status of oil exploration in the country and Kenyans are being assured that possible oil discovery could optimistically change the economic outlook of the country. Energy officials say the Government has already briefed members of parliament, top civil servants, leaders from Lamu District, and owners of top media houses in Kenya on the latest developments on oil exploration. A delegation went to Norway last week to represent the Government in a conference on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on Oil. The EITI supports improved governance in resource rich countries through full publication and verification of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. The delegation to Norway included Mrs. Mary M’Mukindia the CEO of NOCK. The meeting went well and the commencement of drilling is a clear indication that everything is going well. Berth 5 of Mombasa port yesterday was a flurry of activity as personnel from Kenya Ports Authority, Spanfreight Shipping (the vessels local ground handling agency) and SDV Transami oversaw the offloading work. Drilling equipment stashed in containers was offloaded including pipes that will be used in the drilling work. Woodside had won the rights to drill the oil in Blocks L6 and L17 located over 100 km from Lamu in the Indian Ocean. Energy PS Patrick Nyoike yesterday that rights to explore for oil on Block L2, L3 and L4 off Lamu were awarded to China National offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). CNOOC signed six Production Sharing Contract (PSC) agreements with Kenyan Government, for blocks L8, 10A, L-3, L-8 and L4 in May 2006.
MV Thor Hanne, a general cargo vessel, docked in at the port after arriving from Singapore on Thursday. Equipment from the ship will be stored at a supply base for the oil drilling rig, Chikyu, which is expected on location 135 km from Lamu next week. Mv Chikyu is one of the largest and most modern oil drilling rigs in the world, and is too large to dock at the port. The Government is preparing to issue a statement on the status of oil exploration in the country and Kenyans are being assured that possible oil discovery could optimistically change the economic outlook of the country. Energy officials say the Government has already briefed members of parliament, top civil servants, leaders from Lamu District, and owners of top media houses in Kenya on the latest developments on oil exploration. A delegation went to Norway last week to represent the Government in a conference on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on Oil. The EITI supports improved governance in resource rich countries through full publication and verification of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. The delegation to Norway included Mrs. Mary M’Mukindia the CEO of NOCK. The meeting went well and the commencement of drilling is a clear indication that everything is going well. Berth 5 of Mombasa port yesterday was a flurry of activity as personnel from Kenya Ports Authority, Spanfreight Shipping (the vessels local ground handling agency) and SDV Transami oversaw the offloading work. Drilling equipment stashed in containers was offloaded including pipes that will be used in the drilling work. Woodside had won the rights to drill the oil in Blocks L6 and L17 located over 100 km from Lamu in the Indian Ocean. Energy PS Patrick Nyoike yesterday that rights to explore for oil on Block L2, L3 and L4 off Lamu were awarded to China National offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). CNOOC signed six Production Sharing Contract (PSC) agreements with Kenyan Government, for blocks L8, 10A, L-3, L-8 and L4 in May 2006.
The Government is preparing to issue a statement on the status of oil exploration in the country and Kenyans are being assured that possible oil discovery could optimistically change the economic outlook of the country. Energy officials say the Government has already briefed members of parliament, top civil servants, leaders from Lamu District, and owners of top media houses in Kenya on the latest developments on oil exploration. A delegation went to Norway last week to represent the Government in a conference on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on Oil. The EITI supports improved governance in resource rich countries through full publication and verification of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. The delegation to Norway included Mrs. Mary M’Mukindia the CEO of NOCK. The meeting went well and the commencement of drilling is a clear indication that everything is going well. Berth 5 of Mombasa port yesterday was a flurry of activity as personnel from Kenya Ports Authority, Spanfreight Shipping (the vessels local ground handling agency) and SDV Transami oversaw the offloading work. Drilling equipment stashed in containers was offloaded including pipes that will be used in the drilling work. Woodside had won the rights to drill the oil in Blocks L6 and L17 located over 100 km from Lamu in the Indian Ocean. Energy PS Patrick Nyoike yesterday that rights to explore for oil on Block L2, L3 and L4 off Lamu were awarded to China National offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). CNOOC signed six Production Sharing Contract (PSC) agreements with Kenyan Government, for blocks L8, 10A, L-3, L-8 and L4 in May 2006.
Energy officials say the Government has already briefed members of parliament, top civil servants, leaders from Lamu District, and owners of top media houses in Kenya on the latest developments on oil exploration. A delegation went to Norway last week to represent the Government in a conference on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on Oil. The EITI supports improved governance in resource rich countries through full publication and verification of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. The delegation to Norway included Mrs. Mary M’Mukindia the CEO of NOCK. The meeting went well and the commencement of drilling is a clear indication that everything is going well. Berth 5 of Mombasa port yesterday was a flurry of activity as personnel from Kenya Ports Authority, Spanfreight Shipping (the vessels local ground handling agency) and SDV Transami oversaw the offloading work. Drilling equipment stashed in containers was offloaded including pipes that will be used in the drilling work. Woodside had won the rights to drill the oil in Blocks L6 and L17 located over 100 km from Lamu in the Indian Ocean. Energy PS Patrick Nyoike yesterday that rights to explore for oil on Block L2, L3 and L4 off Lamu were awarded to China National offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). CNOOC signed six Production Sharing Contract (PSC) agreements with Kenyan Government, for blocks L8, 10A, L-3, L-8 and L4 in May 2006.
CNOOC signed six Production Sharing Contract (PSC) agreements with Kenyan Government, for blocks L8, 10A, L-3, L-8 and L4 in May 2006.
One of the two helicopters to be used in the oil exploration work off the Lamu Coast has arrived in Mombasa. The long-range helicopter is kitted with search and rescue equipment, and will be used to ferry personnel from Mombasa to the drill ship, Mv Chikyu which will be on location off Lamu later this month. The helicopter will also carry sensitive equipment to the drill ship. Fisheries Department have been informed of the presence of the Japanese vessel and the activities it will undertake. Also advance notification has been relayed to the Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Maritime Authority and the Kenya Navy. The drill ship, Mv Chikyu is 210 metres long with a breadth of 38 metres, it has its own landing pad where helicopters can land and take off. The ship will have a crew of 150 people. To ease any doubts about the exploration work NOCK MD, Mary Kimotho M’Mukindia assured the public that the drilling ship will not anchor to the sea floor and as such, there will be minimal disturbances and little or no impact on commercial shipping activities. Drilling will also be outside areas that are exploited by local fishermen. Woodside Energy has also vowed to attain current best industry practice on environmental protection. Consultations have been made with all key stakeholders involved in the project and an undertaking for industry best practice contingency plans for oil spills will be in place throughout, said M’Mukindia.
The drill ship, Mv Chikyu is 210 metres long with a breadth of 38 metres, it has its own landing pad where helicopters can land and take off. The ship will have a crew of 150 people. To ease any doubts about the exploration work NOCK MD, Mary Kimotho M’Mukindia assured the public that the drilling ship will not anchor to the sea floor and as such, there will be minimal disturbances and little or no impact on commercial shipping activities. Drilling will also be outside areas that are exploited by local fishermen. Woodside Energy has also vowed to attain current best industry practice on environmental protection. Consultations have been made with all key stakeholders involved in the project and an undertaking for industry best practice contingency plans for oil spills will be in place throughout, said M’Mukindia.
Woodside Energy has also vowed to attain current best industry practice on environmental protection. Consultations have been made with all key stakeholders involved in the project and an undertaking for industry best practice contingency plans for oil spills will be in place throughout, said M’Mukindia.
A base to facilitate the oil exploration exercise in Lamu is in the process of being set up at the port of Mombasa. The base will be used to supply food and water as well as ferry oil workers & equipment to a Japanese oil rig, the Mv Chikyu, which is expected to start test-drilling for oil 135 kilometers from Lamu. With drilling expected to begin by the first week of November. Woodside Energy, the firm exploring for oil, is Australia’s largest publicly traded Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Company and since 2000 their exploration interest in Kenya has grown significantly. With the building of this base Woodside is ensured smooth operations as a warehouse and jetty are being developed at the port. Kenya Ports Authority workers will also undergo specialized training so that they may handle the specialized equipment safely. The structures are being put up at the Southern Engineering Company Ltd (Seco) operational areas within the port. The jetty will facilitate loading & offloading of the supply vessel and Kenya Ports Authority will approve the structures once they are ready.
The base will be used to supply food and water as well as ferry oil workers & equipment to a Japanese oil rig, the Mv Chikyu, which is expected to start test-drilling for oil 135 kilometers from Lamu. With drilling expected to begin by the first week of November. Woodside Energy, the firm exploring for oil, is Australia’s largest publicly traded Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Company and since 2000 their exploration interest in Kenya has grown significantly. With the building of this base Woodside is ensured smooth operations as a warehouse and jetty are being developed at the port. Kenya Ports Authority workers will also undergo specialized training so that they may handle the specialized equipment safely. The structures are being put up at the Southern Engineering Company Ltd (Seco) operational areas within the port. The jetty will facilitate loading & offloading of the supply vessel and Kenya Ports Authority will approve the structures once they are ready.
Woodside Energy, the firm exploring for oil, is Australia’s largest publicly traded Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Company and since 2000 their exploration interest in Kenya has grown significantly. With the building of this base Woodside is ensured smooth operations as a warehouse and jetty are being developed at the port. Kenya Ports Authority workers will also undergo specialized training so that they may handle the specialized equipment safely. The structures are being put up at the Southern Engineering Company Ltd (Seco) operational areas within the port. The jetty will facilitate loading & offloading of the supply vessel and Kenya Ports Authority will approve the structures once they are ready.
With the building of this base Woodside is ensured smooth operations as a warehouse and jetty are being developed at the port. Kenya Ports Authority workers will also undergo specialized training so that they may handle the specialized equipment safely. The structures are being put up at the Southern Engineering Company Ltd (Seco) operational areas within the port. The jetty will facilitate loading & offloading of the supply vessel and Kenya Ports Authority will approve the structures once they are ready.
The structures are being put up at the Southern Engineering Company Ltd (Seco) operational areas within the port. The jetty will facilitate loading & offloading of the supply vessel and Kenya Ports Authority will approve the structures once they are ready.
The first drilling of an exploratory oil well in Kenya for over 20 years started last week off the coast of Lamu , when the drill ship undertaking the project arrived at the drilling site. The drill ship, named Chikyu, is being used by a consortium led by an Australian firm, Woodside Energy, to drill an exploratory well. An exploratory well is dug to get deep into the earth to confirm whether a particular location has oil. This drilling is done after many years of study to determine the possibility of oil being found.
The drill ship, named Chikyu, is being used by a consortium led by an Australian firm, Woodside Energy, to drill an exploratory well. An exploratory well is dug to get deep into the earth to confirm whether a particular location has oil. This drilling is done after many years of study to determine the possibility of oil being found.
The drill ship will be operating off the coast of Lamu for between 60 and 90 days, and it will drill wells in two locations named Pomboo and Sokwe. These locations are at least 80 kilometres off the northern coast. The ship will be operating in waters of more than 2 kilometres deep, and will drill wells at least two to three kilometres below the seabed. Woodside has emphasised that the chance of success is low, at about 12 per cent. Chikyu is being serviced from Mombasa, as this is the only port on the Kenyan coast capable of handling this operation. Woodside is using two helicopters for transportation from Mombasa to the drillship. The vessel is also being supported by two large work boats operating out of Mombasa port. This operation has several firsts. It is the first time that Woodside has drilled an oil well in such deep water. It is also the deepest well ever drilled in eastern Africa. Further, this is the first time that Chikyu, the most technologically advanced drill ship in the world, has been used in a commercial operation. After drilling, the results will be analysed to determine whether any oil, if found, is in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable. This process may necessitate the drilling of more wells and could take many months or even years. If Woodside discovers oil that is worth developing, it would take much more work and several years before production were possible. If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
The ship will be operating in waters of more than 2 kilometres deep, and will drill wells at least two to three kilometres below the seabed. Woodside has emphasised that the chance of success is low, at about 12 per cent. Chikyu is being serviced from Mombasa, as this is the only port on the Kenyan coast capable of handling this operation. Woodside is using two helicopters for transportation from Mombasa to the drillship. The vessel is also being supported by two large work boats operating out of Mombasa port. This operation has several firsts. It is the first time that Woodside has drilled an oil well in such deep water. It is also the deepest well ever drilled in eastern Africa. Further, this is the first time that Chikyu, the most technologically advanced drill ship in the world, has been used in a commercial operation. After drilling, the results will be analysed to determine whether any oil, if found, is in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable. This process may necessitate the drilling of more wells and could take many months or even years. If Woodside discovers oil that is worth developing, it would take much more work and several years before production were possible. If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
Woodside has emphasised that the chance of success is low, at about 12 per cent. Chikyu is being serviced from Mombasa, as this is the only port on the Kenyan coast capable of handling this operation. Woodside is using two helicopters for transportation from Mombasa to the drillship. The vessel is also being supported by two large work boats operating out of Mombasa port. This operation has several firsts. It is the first time that Woodside has drilled an oil well in such deep water. It is also the deepest well ever drilled in eastern Africa. Further, this is the first time that Chikyu, the most technologically advanced drill ship in the world, has been used in a commercial operation. After drilling, the results will be analysed to determine whether any oil, if found, is in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable. This process may necessitate the drilling of more wells and could take many months or even years. If Woodside discovers oil that is worth developing, it would take much more work and several years before production were possible. If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
Chikyu is being serviced from Mombasa, as this is the only port on the Kenyan coast capable of handling this operation. Woodside is using two helicopters for transportation from Mombasa to the drillship. The vessel is also being supported by two large work boats operating out of Mombasa port. This operation has several firsts. It is the first time that Woodside has drilled an oil well in such deep water. It is also the deepest well ever drilled in eastern Africa. Further, this is the first time that Chikyu, the most technologically advanced drill ship in the world, has been used in a commercial operation. After drilling, the results will be analysed to determine whether any oil, if found, is in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable. This process may necessitate the drilling of more wells and could take many months or even years. If Woodside discovers oil that is worth developing, it would take much more work and several years before production were possible. If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
This operation has several firsts. It is the first time that Woodside has drilled an oil well in such deep water. It is also the deepest well ever drilled in eastern Africa. Further, this is the first time that Chikyu, the most technologically advanced drill ship in the world, has been used in a commercial operation. After drilling, the results will be analysed to determine whether any oil, if found, is in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable. This process may necessitate the drilling of more wells and could take many months or even years. If Woodside discovers oil that is worth developing, it would take much more work and several years before production were possible. If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
After drilling, the results will be analysed to determine whether any oil, if found, is in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable. This process may necessitate the drilling of more wells and could take many months or even years. If Woodside discovers oil that is worth developing, it would take much more work and several years before production were possible. If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
If Woodside discovers oil that is worth developing, it would take much more work and several years before production were possible. If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
If no oil is found, Woodside will seal the wells and leave the site.
Kenya has mapped out 38 areas all over the country where the potential for oil exploration is considered to be high. The mapped out areas better known as exploration blocks have been listed in the latest edition of the Kenya Gazette in a notice signed by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi. The 38 blocks covering 115,343 square kilometers are found in Mandera, Anza, Tertiary Rift valley, and Kano plains off Lake Victoria. The gazettement by the Minister of the new blocks means that if one negotiates for exploration rights for a particular block or any other, one cannot go beyond the marked coordinates. This enables the Government to receive more detailed data from the blocks. Concurrent with the gazettement, Global Petroleum have been putting final touches on preparation to begin exploratory drilling. Drilling on the prospect structure named Pomboo 138 kilometres offshore from Lamu started on Saturday 2nd December at 12:15pm using the Chikyu rig and the exercise is being carried out 2,200 metres below the water surface. According to geology experts, the exploratory drilling is the culmination stage of years of analysis of geological data and should provide the final and decisive answer as to whether there is oil below the surface prospected or not. Woodside as the lead operator is participating in the exercise with 30 per cent stake, Dana (30 percent), Repsol (20 percent) and Global (20 percent equity). The joint venture partners would spend US $144 million (about Sh10 billion) to drill the two wells but chances of striking crude oil is only 12 per cent. To download the Kenya Gazette Document of 1st December 2006 click the links below. File: Mandera and Anza Basin Format: PDF File: Tertiary Rift Valley Basin Format: PDF File: Lamu Basin Format: PDF
The 38 blocks covering 115,343 square kilometers are found in Mandera, Anza, Tertiary Rift valley, and Kano plains off Lake Victoria. The gazettement by the Minister of the new blocks means that if one negotiates for exploration rights for a particular block or any other, one cannot go beyond the marked coordinates. This enables the Government to receive more detailed data from the blocks. Concurrent with the gazettement, Global Petroleum have been putting final touches on preparation to begin exploratory drilling.
The gazettement by the Minister of the new blocks means that if one negotiates for exploration rights for a particular block or any other, one cannot go beyond the marked coordinates. This enables the Government to receive more detailed data from the blocks.
Concurrent with the gazettement, Global Petroleum have been putting final touches on preparation to begin exploratory drilling.
Drilling on the prospect structure named Pomboo 138 kilometres offshore from Lamu started on Saturday 2nd December at 12:15pm using the Chikyu rig and the exercise is being carried out 2,200 metres below the water surface. According to geology experts, the exploratory drilling is the culmination stage of years of analysis of geological data and should provide the final and decisive answer as to whether there is oil below the surface prospected or not. Woodside as the lead operator is participating in the exercise with 30 per cent stake, Dana (30 percent), Repsol (20 percent) and Global (20 percent equity). The joint venture partners would spend US $144 million (about Sh10 billion) to drill the two wells but chances of striking crude oil is only 12 per cent. To download the Kenya Gazette Document of 1st December 2006 click the links below. File: Mandera and Anza Basin Format: PDF File: Tertiary Rift Valley Basin Format: PDF File: Lamu Basin Format: PDF
According to geology experts, the exploratory drilling is the culmination stage of years of analysis of geological data and should provide the final and decisive answer as to whether there is oil below the surface prospected or not. Woodside as the lead operator is participating in the exercise with 30 per cent stake, Dana (30 percent), Repsol (20 percent) and Global (20 percent equity). The joint venture partners would spend US $144 million (about Sh10 billion) to drill the two wells but chances of striking crude oil is only 12 per cent. To download the Kenya Gazette Document of 1st December 2006 click the links below. File: Mandera and Anza Basin Format: PDF File: Tertiary Rift Valley Basin Format: PDF File: Lamu Basin Format: PDF
Woodside as the lead operator is participating in the exercise with 30 per cent stake, Dana (30 percent), Repsol (20 percent) and Global (20 percent equity). The joint venture partners would spend US $144 million (about Sh10 billion) to drill the two wells but chances of striking crude oil is only 12 per cent. To download the Kenya Gazette Document of 1st December 2006 click the links below. File: Mandera and Anza Basin Format: PDF File: Tertiary Rift Valley Basin Format: PDF File: Lamu Basin Format: PDF
The joint venture partners would spend US $144 million (about Sh10 billion) to drill the two wells but chances of striking crude oil is only 12 per cent. To download the Kenya Gazette Document of 1st December 2006 click the links below. File: Mandera and Anza Basin Format: PDF File: Tertiary Rift Valley Basin Format: PDF File: Lamu Basin Format: PDF
To download the Kenya Gazette Document of 1st December 2006 click the links below.
File: Mandera and Anza Basin
Format: PDF
File: Tertiary Rift Valley Basin
File: Lamu Basin
Drilling has begun and a consultant of Woodside Energy says that results will be announced once oil is struck. The company plans to release information immediately to the Australian Stock Exchange and Kenya. Drilling will only be done on two blocks, Pomboo and Sokwe, they chose these two blocks after research done showed that there is a possibility of discovering oil in them. It has been reported that Kenyans will know whether there is oil in the country within the next 45 days. The announcement is expected by the end of January next year.
Drilling will only be done on two blocks, Pomboo and Sokwe, they chose these two blocks after research done showed that there is a possibility of discovering oil in them. It has been reported that Kenyans will know whether there is oil in the country within the next 45 days. The announcement is expected by the end of January next year.
It has been reported that Kenyans will know whether there is oil in the country within the next 45 days. The announcement is expected by the end of January next year.
In the recent past, the expectations of locals/ Kenyans were heightened by the flurry of activities as government officials and representatives of multinational oil exploration companies trooped to the islands holding meetings with the residents’ representatives on the ongoing oil exploration project. The idea of oil wealth, jobs and better living standards for Kenyans have been lingering in their minds. Recognizing the expectations, the Government has started an awareness campaign on oil exploration in the area. National Oil Corporation of Kenya Managing Director Mary Kimotho M’Mukindia says the move is aimed at controlling the hopes. The expectations and fears over the exploration of oil in the area are very high and the only way to mitigate against them is to conduct education for opinion leaders and the general public, she adds. The Corporation will educate residents through seminars and public rallies to make them understand that the hunt is a normal operation that would not necessarily change their lives. Oil exploration in Kenya has been going on for more than 50 years. Just in the recent years has there been a lot of interest by international companies to prospect for oil along the East African coast. This is because geological evidence shows that there is a rock system that could yield the product. The exploration process has been described as being so painstakingly slow and expensive that it requires numerous tests to be done to determine the presence, amount and type of petroleum in the area. Thus if any, experts say the earliest the people can expect the first dollar if the exploration succeeds is about eight years from now. Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
Recognizing the expectations, the Government has started an awareness campaign on oil exploration in the area. National Oil Corporation of Kenya Managing Director Mary Kimotho M’Mukindia says the move is aimed at controlling the hopes. The expectations and fears over the exploration of oil in the area are very high and the only way to mitigate against them is to conduct education for opinion leaders and the general public, she adds. The Corporation will educate residents through seminars and public rallies to make them understand that the hunt is a normal operation that would not necessarily change their lives. Oil exploration in Kenya has been going on for more than 50 years. Just in the recent years has there been a lot of interest by international companies to prospect for oil along the East African coast. This is because geological evidence shows that there is a rock system that could yield the product. The exploration process has been described as being so painstakingly slow and expensive that it requires numerous tests to be done to determine the presence, amount and type of petroleum in the area. Thus if any, experts say the earliest the people can expect the first dollar if the exploration succeeds is about eight years from now. Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
National Oil Corporation of Kenya Managing Director Mary Kimotho M’Mukindia says the move is aimed at controlling the hopes. The expectations and fears over the exploration of oil in the area are very high and the only way to mitigate against them is to conduct education for opinion leaders and the general public, she adds. The Corporation will educate residents through seminars and public rallies to make them understand that the hunt is a normal operation that would not necessarily change their lives. Oil exploration in Kenya has been going on for more than 50 years. Just in the recent years has there been a lot of interest by international companies to prospect for oil along the East African coast. This is because geological evidence shows that there is a rock system that could yield the product. The exploration process has been described as being so painstakingly slow and expensive that it requires numerous tests to be done to determine the presence, amount and type of petroleum in the area. Thus if any, experts say the earliest the people can expect the first dollar if the exploration succeeds is about eight years from now. Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
The expectations and fears over the exploration of oil in the area are very high and the only way to mitigate against them is to conduct education for opinion leaders and the general public, she adds. The Corporation will educate residents through seminars and public rallies to make them understand that the hunt is a normal operation that would not necessarily change their lives. Oil exploration in Kenya has been going on for more than 50 years. Just in the recent years has there been a lot of interest by international companies to prospect for oil along the East African coast. This is because geological evidence shows that there is a rock system that could yield the product. The exploration process has been described as being so painstakingly slow and expensive that it requires numerous tests to be done to determine the presence, amount and type of petroleum in the area. Thus if any, experts say the earliest the people can expect the first dollar if the exploration succeeds is about eight years from now. Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
The Corporation will educate residents through seminars and public rallies to make them understand that the hunt is a normal operation that would not necessarily change their lives. Oil exploration in Kenya has been going on for more than 50 years. Just in the recent years has there been a lot of interest by international companies to prospect for oil along the East African coast. This is because geological evidence shows that there is a rock system that could yield the product. The exploration process has been described as being so painstakingly slow and expensive that it requires numerous tests to be done to determine the presence, amount and type of petroleum in the area. Thus if any, experts say the earliest the people can expect the first dollar if the exploration succeeds is about eight years from now. Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
Oil exploration in Kenya has been going on for more than 50 years. Just in the recent years has there been a lot of interest by international companies to prospect for oil along the East African coast. This is because geological evidence shows that there is a rock system that could yield the product. The exploration process has been described as being so painstakingly slow and expensive that it requires numerous tests to be done to determine the presence, amount and type of petroleum in the area. Thus if any, experts say the earliest the people can expect the first dollar if the exploration succeeds is about eight years from now. Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
The exploration process has been described as being so painstakingly slow and expensive that it requires numerous tests to be done to determine the presence, amount and type of petroleum in the area. Thus if any, experts say the earliest the people can expect the first dollar if the exploration succeeds is about eight years from now. Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
Thus, it is not realistic to promise people jobs and other benefits at this time, and the only thing that can be said now is that it is too early to celebrate because no oil has been found yet.
The exercise is purely exploratory and if any oil deposits are discovered in the Lamu basin, it will not be ready to start fetching revenue until 2014.
