Page 16 - AfrOil Week 14 2022

AfrOil PROJECTS & COMPANIES AfrOil

Sylva went on to say that it was in the interests Eni, an Italian company that is also active in
of both Nigeria and Italy to resolve the dispute. Nigeria’s upstream sector, holds a 10.4% stake
Increasing NLNG’s capacity utilisation will in NLNG. The remaining equity in the consor-
directly benefit the European Union by allow- tium is split between Nigerian National Petro-
ing the consortium to boost shipments of LNG leum Co. Ltd (NNPC Ltd), the operator, with
to Europe, which is seeking new sources of fuel, 49%; Shell (UK), with 25.6%; and TotalEnergies
he explained. (France), with 15%.
De Leo spoke similarly, saying: “At the The partners have been operating a gas liq-
moment, the EU wants to diversify its energy uefaction plant on Bonny Island since 1999. The
sources, especially gas, and Nigeria is very stra- facility now has six production trains capable of
tegic to us. We have been long-standing friends turning out a total of 22.5 mn tpy. Its installed
and partners – and one of the most important capacity is set to rise to 30mn tpy as a result of
[ones], for that matter. So we need to continue to the Train 7 project, which envisions the con-
dialogue on how things can be done properly. In struction of a seventh production train that can
Africa, no country is more strategic than Nigeria turn out 4.2mn tpy, as well as the debottleneck-
because of its population, economy and political ing of existing trains, which will add another
position. So we are happy to work with you.” 3.4mn tpy of capacity. ™

ReconAfrica issues update on drilling,

exploration work in Kavango basin

NAMIBIA/BOTSWANA CANADA’S Reconnaissance Energy Africa Thus far, it reported, five drillable prospects
(ReconAfrica) has published a new outline of and 18 leads have been identified within these
its plans for conducting exploration and drilling three plays. Some of the leads may be re-classi-
work at its licence areas in the greater Kavango fied as drillable prospects after the completion
basin in north-eastern Namibia and north-west- of the second phase of 2D seismic data acquisi-
ern Botswana in 2022. tion, a part of the project that is now underway,
In a statement dated April 4, ReconAfrica is completed, it explained. One of the existing
noted that its initial exploration and develop- drillable prospects is the sidetracking of the 6-2
ment activities were focusing on one of five well drilled in 2021, it added.
sub-basins within the greater Kavango basin, As such, it said, ReconAfrica’s 2022 drilling
which covers an area of about 8.5mn acres programme calls for spudding three new test
(34,400 square km). It also said it had used wells and drilling the 6-2 sidetrack well before
the results from its first two stratigraphic test the end of this year. The company is working
wells, along with 2D seismic data subsequently with the relevant government agencies to obtain
acquired in the Kavango basin, to confirm the the permits it will need to begin drilling the first
existence of a rift basin in the area that is similar of the test wells in the third quarter of 2022, it
to other petroleum provinces. said. “Importantly, these will be the first wells
Additionally, it stated, integrated interpreta- drilled into seismically defined traps with the
tion shows that the rift basin is home to three objective to prove commerciality of this petro-
hydrocarbon plays: a primary play known as the leum system,” it commented.
Karoo Rift Fill, which is thought to contain light In the meantime, it added, work on the sec-
crude oil; a secondary play known as the Intra- ond phase of the 2D seismic survey is contin-
Rift Fault Blocks, which may also contain light uing. ReconAfrica aims to collect about 600
crude oil; and a new play known as the Damara line-km of data during this stage of the seismic
Fold Belt, which may hold natural gas and gas campaign and will use the results of the survey
condensate. to determine the exact size of the Kavango basin
The Damara Fold Belt was recently identified petroleum system and check whether it extends
during the interpretation of data from the first to the south and east.
phase of 2D seismic work, it noted. It encom- Scot Evans, ReconAfrica’s CEO, said: “As we
passes a structure known as ASF-1, an active continue to progress the evaluation and explo-
combustible gas seep that has been shown to ration of the Kavango basin, our work to date
contain combustible hydrocarbons. It has been has increased our confidence that the Kavango
confirmed by a third party to be part of an active basin is highly prospective for conventional oil
petroleum system and may indicate that the and natural gas. Building on the success of our
Kavango basin hosts multiple systems, one hold- 2021 programme, we are now focused on exe-
ing light crude oil and another holding gas and cuting our 2022 seismic acquisition and drilling
condensate, the statement said. programme.” ™

P16 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 14 06•April•2022