28 November 2011, Sweetcrude, Maputo – US oil and gas company, Anadarko Petroleum, has announced that its recoverable natural gas estimate for Mozambique have been reversed upwards after it discovered more gas at an appraisal well offshore.
Anadarko’s Barquentine-3 appraisal well encountered more than 662 net feet of natural gas pay, expanding the estimated recoverable resource range to between 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to over 30 Tcf. The well has an estimated 30 Tcf to over 50 Tcf of natural gas in place.
Anadarko chief executive Jim Hackett said the find had added to company confidence “that this could be one of the most important natural gas fields discovered in the last 10 years, with significant long-term benefits for Mozambique in the nation.”
“The positive results of each appraisal well that we have drilled and analysed have continued to increase our estimate of recoverable resources and natural gas in place on our block,” he said.
The well is in an exploration block in the Rovuma basin known as Offshore Area 1, close to the border with Tanzania. The find marks the sixth successful penetration in the complex that includes the Windjammer, Lagosta, Barquentine and Camarao discoveries.
In an announcement to the London Stock Exchange, project partner Cove Energy said a large-scale LNG development of at least two trains, with the flexibility to expand to six, was currently being designed.
The company added that the Deepwater Millennium drillship was being mobilised to commence flow and interference testing, with a four year extension for the Belford Dolphin drillship to ensure a continuous appraisal and exploration drilling programme.
Cove chief executive John Craven said the rest of the block remained highly prospective.
