Tullow reports progress in drilling operations in northern Kenya

British oil exploration firm Tullow said on Monday that it's making progress in its drilling operations with strong community support in the South Lokichar basin in northern Kenya. It said the Amosing well has spud and is drilling ahead on schedule. South Lokichar basin is the site of five consecutive significant oil discoveries by Tullow in conjunction with its 50- percent partner and operator, Africa Oil. "The significant exploration activity continues in Block 10BB with the Amosing-1 well currently drilling and the Ewoi-1 well expected to spud by the end of the year," Tullow said in a statement issued in Nairobi. "Following the discoveries made at Etuko-1 and Ekales-1, preparations are underway to flow test the wells with results expected early in the first quarter of 2014." Amosing is located 7 km southeast of the Ngamia discovery which had over 200 meters of net pay and is a similar basin bounding fault trap in which has been referred to as the "string of pearls" trend. The well is expected to be completed by the end of January. The rig which recently completed the Agete discovery with at least 100 meters of net oil pay, is being mobilized to the Ewoi prospect and is expected to spud by the end of the year. Ewoi is a large faulted structure updip from the recent Etuko discovery on the Rift Flank portion of the basin. The two lightweight rigs in the basin are currently being rigged up for testing on the Etuko and Ekales discoveries and test results for both are expected early in the first quarter of 2014. "The 3D seismic survey over the western flank of the basin is also expected to commence before the end of the year and civil construction on several exploration and appraisal locations has been accelerated to keep pace with the aggressive planned drilling schedule," Tullow said in a statement. The oil exploration firm resumed operations on Nov. 8 after successful talks with local leaders over security concerns. Tullow resumed operations in Block 10BB and Block 13T after it suspended its activities on Oct. 27 sparked by local residents' protests demanding for more jobs at the sites. "The suspension of operations allowed all parties to discuss and understand the complex operating environment in northern Kenya and commit to taking the necessary action to allow exploration operations to resume," Black said. The British oil firm which begun drilling activities in Kenya three years ago, added that its priority now was to ensure the safety of its staff, hence the temporary shutdown on operations. While decades of oil exploration failed to yield results, in most cases, ending with nothing less than a bottle of crude oil, experts say there were high hopes of Kenya striking commercial oil with the advent of new oil exploration technologies.