9 September 2011, Sweetcrude, Monrovia- Australian explorer, African Petroleum, has completed the first of at least two deep-water exploration wells offshore Liberia.
The Apalis-1 wildcat was drilled in 992 metres of water to a total depth of 3665 metres. It found oil shows in the shallower Tertiary and deeper Cretaceous reservoirs, but not in commercial quantities or quality, said the company.
The well spudded on 8 August 2011 in Block LB-09 using the semi-submersible rig Maersk Deliverer, and had pre-drill potential recoverable oil resources of a minimum 500 million barrels.
African Petroleum said it owns 100% interests in Blocks LB-08 and LB-09 and is fully funded for a further five exploration wells.
The semisub drilling rig will be released to Vanco and Lukoil for two wells and will then be returned to African Petroleum for one additional well in late 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.
Having confirmed a working hydrocarbon system with the Apalis-1 well, the forward exploration programme will focus on the deeper basinal zone where improved reservoir quality is anticipated in the well-developed Cretaceous fan system, said African Petroleum, which is listed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia.
Karl Thompson, chief executive, said: “This is the first ever frontier well in the deep water in Liberia and has confirmed we are exploring in a highly prospective oil basin which was its key objective and we are committed to continuing exploration in the area”.
