ARA Petroleum Tanzania's latest data interpretation operation on the Ruvuma PSA has generated promising results since the last 2D database
Conducted by Aminex, the 3D survey has resulted in a significant rise in resource potential in the wider license area, which gave way to 338 sq km of revealing dataset. Seismic inversion geomodelling, done in collaboration with Ikon Geoscience, it showed a marked improvement in the in-place volumetrics for the Ntorya gas discovery. In what is being considered a substantial increase, approximately 3.45 trillion cu/ft of gas initially in place (GIIP) is potentially lying in the reservoir sandstones encountered in the Ntorya-1 (NT1) and Ntorya-2 (NT-2) discovery wells.
Further possibilities are anticipated from the revelation of new 3D seismic images extracted through seismic inversion modelling that suggests even larger area of gas-charged reservoir sandstones. This provides for
potential additional prospective gas volumes associated with the Cretaceous age sand units tested in NT1 and NT-2 (Units 1 and 2) and for the possible existence of an as yet undrilled shallower sand unit (Unit
3), to be tested by the forthcoming Chikumbi-1 (CH-1) appraisal well later in the year.
In a first, the 3D dataset has also revealed considerable undrilled exploration potential within the broader licence area.
Charles Santos, executive chairman of Aminex, said, “Completion of the 3D seismic data interpretation is another important milestone for the Ntorya gas field development, and I am delighted that the results are so positive. The quality of the new 3D seismic dataset was excellent giving the JV partners the ability to map in detail the Ntorya gas discovery, refine volumetric estimates and provide the basis to locate future appraisal and development drilling targets. We are particularly excited by the significant potential gas volumes now identified in other untested structures within the licence area. To place these volumes in context, the Ntorya accumulation is potentially the largest onshore gas discovery in East Africa and, with the sizeable new exploration targets, should be much less expensive to exploit than offshore resources. Further announcements can be expected detailing a future programme of drilling and an associated schedule to commercialise these exciting new opportunities and add further value for all stakeholders.”
