Tullow takes interest in blocks offshore Comoros

Oil and gas exploration company Tullow Oil has farmed into licenses located in the Indian Ocean offshore Comoros.  

Source: Bahari

Tullow said on Thursday that it had agreed with Discover Exploration to farm into Blocks 35, 36 and 37, offshore the Union of the Comoros in the Indian Ocean.

Following the completion of this transaction, which requires government approval, Tullow will operate the three blocks and hold a working interest of 35%.

Discover’s other partner in these three blocks is Bahari Resources with a 40% working interest. Before Tullow’s farm-in, Bahari held the role of the operator.

According to Tullow, the blocks comprise a deep water area of 16,063 sq km with a gross unrisked resource potential of up to 7 billion barrels of oil. A 3D seismic survey is planned for 2019.

The license area is adjacent to the proven and prolific Rovuma gas basin, offshore Mozambique, where the JV partners include Anadarko, CNOOC, Eni, ExxonMobil, Mitsui & Co. and PTTEP. However, despite its close proximity to these world-class discoveries and highly competitive exploration basins, the Comoros are still largely underexplored.

Following ratification of the Comoros PSC in 2014, Discover and Bahari acquired and interpreted circa 3,900 km of 2D seismic data, and conducted a range of exploratory studies.

Interpretation of the 2D seismic surveys, gravity and magnetic data, seep studies and regional studies identified a number of structural and stratigraphic traps in stacked Eocene and Cenomanian fans, analogously to the Eocene sands encountered in Coral (Area 4) and Tubarao (Area 1) reservoirs. Basin modelling studies support a strong case for an oil charge in outer Rovuma delta.

After completing the first exploration phase in April 2018, the partnership moved into the second exploration  phase with the aim to acquire 3D seismic data in 2019 to mature and further de-risk identified prospects.