Swala Energy has announced that it has submitted bids for hydrocarbon exploration permits in three Zambian blocks
The bids are for permits namely Block 31, which consists of Lake Tanganyika and a section of the East African Rift System; Block 42 and Block 44, both covering significant tracts in the under-explored rift systems of the Permo-Triassic Karoo. If the applications are successful, Swala would own an 83 per cent equity interest in any block awarded.
David Mestres Ridge, CEO of Swala Energy, said, “Block 31 offers a frontier opportunity in the East African Rift System where hydrocarbon generation and accumulation has been proven elsewhere. Blocks 42 and 44 are Karoo Blocks that offer an opportunity to investigate basins where Swala Energy believes is potential for large structural traps.”
Block 31 lies adjacent to the Beach Petroleum acreage where Swala Energy is currently carrying out extensive exploration activity in the Tanzanian part of the lake. No wells have been drilled in the lake to date, but existing 2D seismic indicates there is potential to generate and trap hydrocarbons, company sources said.
Block 42 lies within the older Karoo-age in Luangwa Basin. The Karoo sequence contains potential reservoir rocks and lacustrine source rocks. Study of the seismic data acquired during mid 1980s drilling demonstrates that any source rocks would certainly have reached sufficient depths to have generated hydrocarbons. The data also shows older structures that would have formed during hydrocarbon generation and, therefore, have a higher chance of retaining trapped hydrocarbons.
Block 44 lies in the southern part of the country, located on the margins of another Karoo-aged basin — the Kariba Basin. Gravity and seismic data suggest that the basin has a thick sequence of Karoo-aged sediments. Swala Energy said that the basin was explored in the late 1980s and a large volume of 2D seismic data was acquired at that time but no wells were drilled. The data shows that the Kariba Basin has a significant sedimentary fill and large structural traps.
Swala Energy, an Australian oil and gas explorer with a number of assets along the East African Rift System, now plans to reprocess and reinterpret the legacy seismic data as part of its work programme, according to a company statement.
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