White Nile Limited
07 November 2006
White Nile Ltd / Ticker: WNL / Index: AIM / Sector: Oil & Gas
7th November 2006
White Nile Ltd ('White Nile' or 'the Company')
Exploration Update
White Nile Ltd, the AIM listed oil and gas exploration company, is pleased to
announce that the first phase of its seismic operation in Block Ba, South Sudan
has been completed. Over 500 km of high-density, 2D seismic data has been
interpreted from the prospective Jonglei sub-basin of the Muglad Basin in the
western part of Block Ba in South Sudan. Several prospects have been identified
in the 1800 sq km project area, including one large structure of over 50 sq km,
which has been high-graded as an immediate drilling target.
The seismic data from the first phase of the exploration programme has been
processed and interpreted to provide a new understanding of the prospectivity of
the Jonglei sub-basin of the Muglad Basin. It clearly shows a sedimentary
section of up to 7 km in thickness and rift structures suitable for forming
hydrocarbon traps analogous to the producing South Sudanese Thar Jath, Mala,
Heglig and Unity oilfields of the Muglad Basin to the northwest of Block Ba. In
this way the geological conditions pertaining to the formation of oilfields in
the Muglad Basin (Blocks 1, 2, 4 and 5A) have been extrapolated into the Jonglei
sub-basin in Block Ba. Blocks 1, 2 & 5A host the known Unity, Heglig and Thar
Jath oilfields that have estimated oil in place figures of circa 600 million,
550 million and one billion barrels respectively.
A drilling rig is now being procured and the first exploration well is planned
to spud in the first half of 2007. White Nile's exploration and development
programme for Block Ba includes three exploration wells in 2007 and further 2D
seismic acquisition. Additionally 3D seismic acquisition will be considered over
any discoveries. A new 2D seismic acquisition programme in the Pibor Post Basin,
part of the productive Melut Basin, in the eastern part of Block Ba will also
commence in early 2007. The Melut Basin to the north of Block Ba includes the
Great Palogue oilfield, which has estimated oil in place of circa 2.9 billion
barrels and the Adar-Yale oilfield, which has estimated oil in place of circa
276 million barrels. The seismic operation is being out by Terra Seis
Geophysical Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Terra Seis International of
Canada.
White Nile Chairman Phil Edmonds said: 'The data received clearly indicates the
prospectivity and potential of Block Ba in Southern Sudan. We have identified
substantial structures that warrant immediate prioritisation for drilling and we
have also demonstrated that the geology of Jonglei sub-basin is analogous to the
producing Thar Jath, Mala, Heglig and Unity oilfields, also in the Muglad Basin.
Our exploration programme is ongoing and we look forward to updating the
market in our year-end figures due to be announced in December.'
* * E N D S * *
For further information please contact:
Phil Edmonds White Nile Ltd Tel: 0845 108 6060
Jonathan Wright Seymour Pierce Ltd Tel: 0207 107 8000
Hugo de Salis St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: 020 7242 4477
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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