Big names tried to make their mark in play

The country’s first well was drilled in 1924, while between 1935 and 1940, Agip drilled 11 wells on Dahlak Island.

Between 1964 and 1970, Mobil and Exxon drilled the Amber-1, B-1 and C-1 wells, while Gulf drilled the Dhunishib and Secca Fawn wells.

The C-1 wildcat, drilled in 1969, was hit by a gas blow-out that took 55 days to get under control and flowed at estimated rates of 
5 million to 20 million cubic feet per day.

Two