BP and Kosmos Energy hit gas offshore Senegal

BP and joint-venture partner Kosmos Energy made a major gas find offshore Senegal, West Africa.

The Yakaar-1 exploration well's success was confirmation that a world-class hydrocarbon basin lay off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania, BP said in a statement.

In combination with the Teranga discovery, it also created the foundation for a further liquid natural gas hub in the basin, BP said.

"Bernard Looney, BP Upsteam chief executive officer, commented "Yakaar-1 follows the earlier exploration success that led to the Tortue discovery and further confirms our belief that offshore Senegal and Mauritania is a world-class hydrocarbon basin. This discovery marks an important further step in building BP’s new business in Mauritania and Senegal. We look forward to results from the additional exploration wells planned for 2017."

Yakaar-1 was drilled to a total depth of roughly 4,700 metres in the Cayar Offshore Profond block by the Atwood Achiever drillship.