Cairn Energy finds oil in latest Senegal drill test

Cairn Energy said it had found oil at its latest drill site off Senegal.

In a statement, the company said it found a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir at its FAN South-1 well with preliminary analysis indicating 31 degree API oil quality.

“Further work is being undertaken to integrate this discovery with FAN-1 to establish the potential commerciality of the deep water, basinal resource seen in these two wells,” Cairn said.

FAN South-1 is 90km offshore in 2,175 metres of water. Cairn said the drilling rig is now moving location to start operations at the SNE North exploration prospect, 15 km north of the SNE-1 discovery well and the most northerly location yet tested, on trend with the highly successful SNE field.

Cairn chief executive Simon Thomson said the results of FAN South would be integrated with FAN-1 and SNE to help the ongoing evaluation of the large, deep water basin potential offshore Senegal.

“As planning for the phased development of the SNE field moves ahead, we will shortly commence operations on the SNE North prospect which has the potential to enhance our total resources in Senegal," he said.