The 50:50 joint venture between Petronas and FAR has temporarily stopped drilling the Bambo-1 deep-water exploration well offshore The Gambia after significant fluid losses, and has reported seeing oil shows in potential reservoirs.

Bambo-1 has drilled to 3216 metres depth of a total planned depth of 3450 metres, and seen oil indications in several intervals.

However, fluid losses caused a suspension and the losses have been stabilised.

FAR said the plan is to plug and sidetrack the well to continue drilling to the planned total depth; a wireline logging programme is being performed in the current well bore.