US-based oil company Anadarko Petroleum Corporation will invest at least US$250mn in sinking two oil and gas offshore wells in Lamu, Kenya, in the first week of January 2013
Patrick Nyoike, Kenya’s energy permanent secretary, said Anadarko revealed plans to invest at least US$250mn in sinking the two wells at Kiboko and Kubwa in Lamu.
“The wells could be game changers for Kenya if massive resources are found,” Nyoike stated.
The drilling of eight more wells will begin later in the year as BG Group, Afren Plc, Ophir Energy, Africa Oil Corporation and Vanoil Energy intensify the search for hydrocarbons off the coast of the East African country.
Australian consulting firm Hartleys has projected that drilling activity will rise offshore Kenya with up to 10 wells expected in 2013.
It added that firms were expected to increase investment as competition in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique intensified.
Nairobi-based Hydrocarbons Management Consultants lead consultant Robert Shisoka said, “Kenya may declare commercial hydrocarbons deposits between 2013 and 2016.”
“Once ignored by the energy sector, East Africa is emerging as a region with significant unexploited oil and gas deposits that are drawing global attention,” he added.
