Tullow Oil enjoys 'excellent results' from latest appraisal in Kenya

Tullow Oil has hailed its appraisal activity in the South Lokichar Basin in Kenya as it looks to prove reservoir quality and define resources estimates ahead of potential development, though one well had to be plugged and abandoned.

Testing of the Amosing-1 and Amosing-2A wells have revealed "excellent results", the company said, flowing at maximum rates of 5,600 and 6,000 barrels of oil per day respectively. Both wells also demonstrated high quality reservoir sands with API gravity (a measure of density) of 31 to 38 degrees.

Meanwhile, the Ngamia-7 appraisal well encountered 132m of net oil pay, expanding the proven extent of the field.

Exploration director Angus McCoss said this was "further good news" which, when combined with the promising initial flows from the Amosing oil field extended well test, "give us further confidence in the size and scale of our two cornerstone fields for the development of the South Lokichar Basin".

Results from Ekales-2 were also "very encouraging", he said, as the well found 50-70m of potential net oil pay.

On a negative note, the Engomo-1 exploration well in Block10BA did not find significant oil or gas shows and has been plugged and abandoned.

McCoss said: "Whilst we would have hoped for basin opening success in the North Turkana Basin's first wildcat well, Engomo-1, we still have a vast amount of undrilled acreage with identified prospects and leads providing significant remaining exploration potential."