Anadarko Petroleum has struck gas in the Barquentine-2 appraisal well in Area 1 of Mozambique’s offshore Rovuma basin.
The well was drilled to a depth of 13,500 feet and encountered more than 230 feet of net pay in Oligocene-age reservoirs.
Barquentine-2 was the first appraisal well to be drilled on the Windjammer, Barquentine and Lagosta complex which Anadarko said was estimated to hold at least 6 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas resources.
"Our first appraisal of the Barquentine discovery matched our expectations, confirming our seismic modeling and providing confidence in our geologic interpretation of this world-class accumulation," Anadarko senior vice president, worldwide exploration Bob Daniels said.
"We've also taken a major step toward the development of these substantial resources by awarding contracts for pre-FEED (front-end engineering and design) work for a prospective LNG (liquefied natural gas) plant.”
Houston-based KBR and France’s Technip are carrying out pre-FEED studies for an LNG plant in Mozambique which are on track to be completed by the end of the year.
Anadarko did not give any details on the LNG plant, but project partner Cove Energy has previously suggested a facility able to handle 15 million tonnes per annum through three trains.
The Barquentine-2 appraisal well was drilled in a water depth of 5400 feet, about two miles east-south-east of the Barquentine-1 discovery well which intersected more than 416 feet of net gas payduring drilling last year.
Anadarko said the drillship was now being mobilised to the south to drill the Camarao exploration well, which also will serve as an appraisal to the Windjammer discovery.
Anadarko is operator of the 2.6 million acre offshore Area 1 and holds a 36.5% working interest along with Mitsui E&P (20%), BPRL Ventures Mozambique (10%), Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 (10%)and Cove Energy (8.5%). Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos' 15% interest is carried through the exploration phase