Drilling Update

RNS Number : 2814G

Tullow Oil PLC

21 October 2008

 



News Release 

Successful Warthog-1 exploration well in Block 1 Uganda

21 October 2008 - Heritage Oil, the operator of the Warthog-1 exploration well in Uganda, in which Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) is a 50% partner, issued the following press release today:

Heritage Oil Limited (LSE: HOIL), an independent upstream exploration and production company, announces a significant new discovery with Warthog-1, the first exploration well that the Company has drilled in Block 1, Uganda.

Highlights

• The Warthog-1 discovery has a gross hydrocarbon-bearing interval of approximately 150 metres, with 46 metres of net hydrocarbon pay

• An exciting start to the drilling campaign in Block 1 which reduces significantly the exploration risk of the next two exploration wells in Block 1

• The rig will now move to the drilling location for Buffalo-1

• Drilling operations at Buffalo-1 will commence mid-November

• Kingfisher-3 is currently drilling ahead at approximately 2,000 metres

Warthog Discovery - Block 1, Uganda

Drilling operations on Warthog-1 commenced on 27 September 2008 and the well was drilled to a total depth of 911 metres. The well encountered a gross hydrocarbon-bearing interval of approximately 150 metres in thickness, with net hydrocarbon pay of 46 metres. Wireline logging and formation pressure measurements indicate 31 metres of net oil pay in the principal oil-bearing reservoir section, overlain by 15 metres of additional net hydrocarbon pay comprising, most probably, volatile oil, condensate and wet gas. 

In addition to the oil discovered in the principal oil-bearing reservoir section, there is further potential upside for liquid hydrocarbons in the overlying reservoir section and elevates further upside potential from the adjacent Warthog North prospect.

Warthog-1 is the first well in a three well exploration programme to be drilled in Block 1. It lies on a structural trend that can be traced from the Kasamene-1 discovery well, in neighbouring Block 2, continuing northeast through the Giraffe and Buffalo prospects in Block 1. All these structures are characterised by seismic amplitude anomalies at reservoir level that appear to directly indicate the presence of hydrocarbons. The successful results of the Warthog-1 discovery further emphasises the highly prospective nature of the Buffalo and Giraffe prospects.

There are a further 15 similarly encouraging amplitude anomalies mapped within Block 1 from over 600 kilometres of seismic data acquired in the licence during the past 18 months, and all represent additional prospects and leads which constitute additional multiple drilling targets. 

The Warthog-1 well is being suspended as a potential future production well. The rig will move to drill Buffalo-1 to an anticipated depth of approximately 600 metres and is expected to commence drilling in mid-November. The movement of the rig is expected to take up to 21 days.

Both the Buffalo and Giraffe prospects were assessed independently by RPS Energy, as at 30 September 2007, to have mean gross un-risked prospective resources of 420 and 89 million barrels of oil respectively. 

Drilling Activity Update - Block 3A, Uganda

Kingfisher-3, which was spudded on 26 September, is currently drilling ahead at 1,957 metres. It is planned to drill Kingfisher-3, and its sidetrack Kingfisher-3A, to anticipated depths of approximately 3,270 metres and 2,860 metres respectively. These wells are expected to be completed in February 2009. The wells are being drilled to evaluate the southern limits of the field and to gather additional reservoir data in preparation for field development. 

Upcoming Exploration Activity in Uganda

Block	Prospect	Interest	Spud Date
Block 1 Block 1	Buffalo Giraffe	50% 50%	Q4 2008 Q4 2008

Heritage is the Operator of Block 3A and Block 1 in Uganda with a 50% equity interest in the licences with Tullow Oil Plc holding the remaining 50% interest.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tullow Oil plc  ([phone]) Aidan Heavey Angus McCoss Chris Perry

Citigate Dewe Rogerson  ([phone])  Martin Jackson George Cazenove

Murray Consultants  ([phone])  Joe Murray  Ed Micheau

Notes to Editors

Tullow is a leading independent oil & gas, exploration and production group, quoted on the London and Irish Stock Exchanges (symbol: TLW) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The Group has interests in over 100 exploration and production licences across 22 countries and focuses on four core areas: Europe, Africa, South Asia and South America.

Tullow's European interests are primarily focused on gas in the UK Southern North Sea where it has significant interests in the Caister-Murdoch System and the Thames-Hewett areas and operates over 70% of its production. The company also has interests offshore the Netherlands and Portugal.

In Africa, Tullow has production in Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Congo (Brazzaville) and Equatorial Guinea and two large appraisal and development programmes in Ghana and Uganda. Tullow also has exploration interests in Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Senegal, Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Madagascar, Namibia and Angola.

In South Asia, Tullow has exploration and production in Pakistan and Bangladesh and high impact exploration activities in India.

In South America Tullow has high impact exploration interests in Trinidad and Tobago, French Guiana and Suriname. 

For further information please refer to our website at www.tullowoil.com.

 

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