(Ecofin Agency) - Tullow Oil in its operation update on Tuesday announced that its Etom-2 well in Northern Kenya came across more than 100 metres of net oil play in the best quality reservoir in the South Lokichar Basin.

The PR Marriott Rig-46 drilled the well to a total depth of 1,655 metres. The rig is to move to Block 12A where it will drill the Cheptuket-1 well (the first well to be drilled in the Kerio Valley Basin) by the end of 2015.

Oil samples, sidewall cores and wire line logging all points out the presence of high API oil. Additional prospectivity identified on the recent 3D seismic in the north of the basin, which comprises of the Erut and Elim prospects, is to be considered as part of the future exploration drilling programme.

 “Discovering this thick interval of high quality oil reservoirs further underpins our development options and resource base. This result suggests significant potential in this underexplored part of the block as it is the most northerly well we have drilled in South Lokichar and is located close to the axis of the basin away from the basin-bounding fault. Accordingly, we will review the potential of the greater Etom area and neighbouring prospects to decide on our forward programme”, Angus McCoss, Tullow Oil’s Exploration Director said.

In Block 10BB, Tullow also reported that it has completed the Ngamia Extended Well Test with about 38,000 barrels of oil produced. The five complete zones of Ngamia-8 were tested at a collective rate of 2,400 bpd. All the zones except the lowest zone produced naturally.

Tullow operates Blocks 13T and 10BB alongside Africa Oil Corporation with 50 % equity each, Irish Times reports.