17 May 2013, News Wires – Australia’s NuEnergy Gas has started an airborne geophysical survey over the first unconventional gas exploration licence in Malawi.
The company is planning to explore for shale gas and coalbed methane in its wholly-owned EPL 0360/12, which covers 346 square kilometres in the Chikhwawa district of southern Malawi.
NuEnergy is aiming to become the first unconventional gas producer in the East African country.
NuEnergy chief executive Chris Newport said on Wednesday the airborne survey was the “first step in the commencement of unconventional gas exploration in Malawi and is expected to confirm the potential of this resource as well as identify high potential targets for exploratory drilling”.
The 6000 line kilometre survey, which follows initial field geological surveys completed in November last year, is expected to take 12 days.
NuEnergy said it anticipated the identification of high potential drilling locations once basin characteristics were determined and evaluated. Exploration drilling is then expected to follow, targeting Karoo basin carbonaceous coal shale formations, which are estimated to be up to 600 metres thick.
