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Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces the suspension of the Paipai-1 exploration well in Kenya for ongoing evaluation.
The well, located in the Marsabit County of Kenya Block 10A, has been drilled to a total depth of 4,255 metres and has been successfully logged. The well was drilled to evaluate a large structural closure of Cretaceous age in the Anza Basin.
Light hydrocarbon shows were encountered whilst drilling a 55 metre thick gross sandstone interval. This sandstone is overlain by a 200 metre thick source rock which forms an effective regional top seal. Several attempts to sample the initial reservoir fluids were unsuccessful and the hydrocarbons encountered whilst drilling were not recovered to surface. The well has consequently been temporarily suspended pending agreement on future evaluation options.
After suspension operations have been concluded at Paipai, the rig will move to the South Lokichar Basin in Block 10BB and drill the Etuko prospect in the undrilled basin flank play. The move is expected to take 3 months.
Tullow has a 50% operated interest in the Paipai-1 well, Block 10A, with Africa Oil holding 30% and Afren holding the remaining 20%.
Source: Tullow
