African Petroleum has announced a major oil discovery at the Narina-1 well, offshore Liberia
The company has found a total of 32 m of net oil pay in two zones: 21 m in the Turonian and 11 m in the Albian. Good quality oil was found in each of the Turonian and Albian reservoirs of 37 degrees API and 44 degrees API, respectively. Hydrocarbon shows were encountered over a 170 m interval in the Turonian and no oil water contact was found.
This discovery confirms the prospectivity of both of these West African exploration plays on African Petroleum’s Blocks LB-08 and LB-09, which cover 7,135 sq km. Oil was found in good quality reservoirs in a Turonian submarine fan system extending across a prospective area of 250 sq km. In addition, excellent quality oil was found in the Albian sands nearby to a very large Albian submarine fan prospect.
In the shallower Campanian, Santonian and Coniacian horizons, 216 m of water bearing net reservoir sands were encountered. Whilst hydrocarbons were not expected due to absence of a prospect trap, the confirmation of good quality thick reservoir sands significantly reduces the risk in a number of large prospects covering 500 plus sq km, at these levels which are known to be oil bearing in the region. In the deeper Cenomanian and Albian, 300 m of source rocks were encountered which will be incorporated into the regional geological model to high grade the prospect portfolio as well as the surrounding open acreage.
The Narina-1 well was drilled by the Maersk Deliverer to a total depth of 4,850 m, in a water depth of 1,143 metres taking 43 days to complete. African Petroleum owns 100 per cent of Liberia offshore Blocks LB-08 and LB-09.
“Narina-1 has identified a potentially large accumulation of light good quality oil at the Turonian level, as well as excellent quality oil in the Albian,” said Karl Thompson, African Petroleum’s CEO. “Additionally, the well found thick reservoir sands in shallower zones and thick source rocks which, together with the discoveries in the Turonian and Albian, have transformed the prospectivity of Blocks LB-08 and LB-09, and the surrounding open acreage.
“African Petroleum has again drilled a very cost-effective well, without incident and has established itself amongst the leading operators in deepwater exploration. The company is focusing on sourcing rigs and we are planning an extensive exploration and appraisal programme in Liberia during 2012.”
Narina oil discovery, seismic cross-section. (Source: African Petroleum)
