Nsoga Discovery

RNS Number : 7343R

Tullow Oil PLC

06 May 2009

 



News Release 

Oil discovery in the Nsoga-1 exploration well in Uganda 

6 May 2009 - Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces that the Nsoga-1 exploration well, which is located in the Butiaba region of Uganda Block 2, has encountered good quality Kasamene-type oil bearing reservoirs in a down-dip location at the oil water contact. 

The well was drilled approximately six kilometres horizontally from the top of the structure, to a total depth of 755 metres and has been successfully cored, logged and sampled. The total net Kasamene-type reservoir is 43 metres thick, of which the top three metres is oil bearing at this location. At the crest of the trap, which is 160 metres vertically up-dip, the entire reservoir should be oil filled.

In a separate low net-to-gross section, immediately above this Kasamene-type reservoir, 12 metres of thin-bedded oil bearing sands were also encountered and are likely to have deeper oil water contacts based on seismic amplitudes and pressures.

Nsoga-1 is the seventh successful test of the Victoria Nile Delta play fairway within the Lake Albert Rift Basin. This latest result further extends the play and de-risks several adjacent prospects located in Blocks 1 and 2, which are scheduled for drilling later in the year.

The well is now being suspended as a future oil producer and on completion of operations the rig will move to test the Awaka prospect with drilling operations scheduled to commence this month.

Tullow has interests in three licences in the Lake Albert Rift Basin in Uganda. Tullow operates Block 2 with a 100% interest and has a 50% interest in Blocks 1 and 3A which are operated by Heritage Oil (50%).

Commenting today, Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, said:

'We drilled the Nsoga-1 exploration well on the flank of the structure to capture the upside immediately. By encountering the oil water contact in good quality Kasamene-type reservoirs, we have made another substantial discovery in the important Victoria Nile Delta play. Importantly, this successful drilling de-risks other nearby prospects which are scheduled for drilling later this year.  This was a bold step, taken with the confidence gained through our 100% success rate in Uganda and our proven exploration methods.'

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tullow Oil plc  ([phone]) Angus McCoss Ian Springett 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 85 exploration and production licences across 22 countries and focuses on four core areas: Africa, Europe, South Asia and South America.

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, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Madagascar, Namibia and Angola.

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 area. The company also has interests offshore the Netherlands and Portugal.

In South Asia, Tullow has exploration and production in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In South America, Tullow has exploration interests in Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. 

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

 

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MSCEANSSEDANEFE