South African gas explorer Sunbird Energy has announced that Block 2A offshore South Africa contains 220.8bn cubic metres of prospective gas resources
The company has recently completed an independent resource assessment of the 5,000 sq km block.
In October 2013, Sunbird Energy had commissioned US’ MHA Petroleum Consultants to study the prospects of Block 2A in which the Ibhubesi Gas Project (IGP) is located. Block 2A is currently in year five of a 30-year production right given to the explorer by the department of mineral resources.
Sunbird Energy holds a 76 per cent interest in the block and is the operator.
The objective of the independent evaluation was to identify the exploration potential of the block and thereby assess the volume of gas that could potentially deliver future incremental gas to the IGP project.
The estimate of a material volume of prospective resource confirms the significant exploration potential of Block 2A, the company said.
Sunbird Energy added that it believed that given the historically high exploration success rate within the block, which has seen 7 of the 11 wells drilled to date discover commercial volumes of gas, that there is a reasonable chance of further gas discoveries with which to build the gas portfolio and enhance the commercial potential of the IGP project.
Will Barker, MD of Sunbird Energy, said, “The booking of 220.8bn cubic metres of Best Estimate Prospective Resources for Block 2A, in and around Sunbird’s planned Ibhubesi Gas Project, confirms the significant exploration potential within a block that has a proven track record of exploration success with 7 of the 11 wells drilled to date encountering commercial gas volumes.
"During 2014 Sunbird will continue to pursue our development planning, engineering design and gas commercialisation negotiations for the IGP. The completion of this material prospective resource evaluation provides Sunbird Energy with important information to increase the gas portfolio, provides a roadmap to focus future exploration activities and confirms the potential of the greater Block 2A to supply additional gas to the IGP and ultimately gas-to-power customers in the energy constrained South African market.”
