Tullow Oil fails to find hydrocarbons at Emesek-1 well in Kenya

Tullow Oil's Emesek-1 exploration well in the North Lokichar basin in Northern Kenya has reached a total depth of 3,000 metres but did not encounter commercial hydrocarbons.

The FTSE 250 exploration and production company said the well will now be plugged and abandoned. Following completion of operations, the rig will move to the South Lokichar basin to drill the Etom-2 well which is expected to spud in late November.

Exploration director Angus McCoss said: "The Emesek-1 well was the first well to be drilled in the North Lokichar basin.

“While this wildcat well did not find commercial hydrocarbons, it provides valuable data as we assess the wider prospectivity of this basin."