New find: announced by Lukoil off Ghana
Dzata-1 boosts Ghana offshore trove
US operator Vanco has struck oil in a deep-water Dzata-1 well off Ghana’s Cape Three Points, further boosting the prospectivity of Ghana’s booming offshore Tano basin play.
Vanco and partner Russian explorer Lukoil said separately the exploration well struck hydrocarbons over 94 metres, including a 25-metre net section of layered oil and gas pay. The pay was discovered below a depth of 3653 metres in the 4433-metre well – the deepest sunk to date on the Tano basin.
Dzata-1 was drilled in water 1878 metres deep by the semi-submersible rig Sedco 702 on the Cape Three Points block, which lies in water between 200 and 3000 metres deep.
The partners said the “significant” hydrocarbon find was identified with wireline logging and fluid samples before being plugged and abandoned.
The find increases prospects for significant finds in the Tano basin. Anglo-Irish player Tullow is developing the 1.8 billion-barrel Jubilee find, while continuing to appraise the Tweneboa discovery, which is thought to hold 1.4 billion barrels.
Kosmos Energy is drilling the Dahoma-1 exploration well on the West Cape Three Points block. Italy’s Eni is also chasing gas in acreage off Ghana.
Vanco operates the Cape Three Points block with a 28.34% stake, with Lukoil holding 56.66%. Ghana’s national petroleum company holds 15% with the option to take a further 5% stake in any commercial discovery.