Tullow Oil in its Trading Statement and Operational Update revealed that the successful Etom-2 result and further prospectivity pointed out on the new 3D seismic data around the greater Etom area and northern part of the South Lokichar Basin, signifies that there are still substantial exploration potential remaining.

According to the company, plans for more exploration drilling is to be estimated in H1 of 2016.

Tullow is at present drilling the Cheptuket-1 exploration well in Block 12A, which was drilled towards the end of December. Drilling on the Cheptuket-1 is expected to be concluded in February 2016, after which the PR Marriott Rig-46 will demobilize.

However, the conclusion of the appraisal drilling campaign in 2015, comprising of the successful Amosing and Ngamia Extended Well Tests, supports a 2C resource base of 600million BO. The Etom-2 result and adjoining prospectivity support a potential of 1 billion BO in the South Lokichar Basin.

Tullow, the draft Field Development Plan presented to the Kenyan government in December. According to the company, more updates will be reported as it advances towards potential Final Investment Decision for both the Kenya and Uganda upstream development projects in 2017, Petroleum Africa reports.

Anita Fatunji