ENERGY: New hope for more gas finds
Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) acting managing director James Andilile speaks during a media workshop on oil and gasin Bagamoyo on Friday. Others are former TPDC managing director Yona Killagane (centre) and acting Director for Strategy and Planning Wellington Hudson. PHOTO | VENANCE NESTORY
What you need to know:
- Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation expects a total of 13 natural gas wells, the highest ever in one year, to be drilled in 2014
Bagamoyo. There is high hope that Tanzania may raise its natural gas resource findings as exploration companies in the East Africa’s second biggest economy expect to drill 13 wells this year.
Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) said it was expecting a total of 13 natural gas wells, the highest ever in one year, to be drilled in 2014 alone including six wells which have already been pursued by both industry giants, Statoil and BG Tanzania.
This raises hopes for possibility of the country to increase its natural gas resource although not guaranteed, said James Andilile, TPDC acting managing director.
“We cannot predict the size of amount of gas to be discovered due to the nature of the industry but there is hope. If our neighbours Mozambique have 200 trillion cubic feet (tcf), why not us?” said Mr Andilile during a one day workshop.
Tanzania has discovered 50.5 tcf by the end of July including 8tcf noticed onshore and 42.5tcf deep in the Indian Ocean.
However, only 1.369 tcf is proven at Songo Songo, Mnazi Bay, Mkuranga and Kiliwani.
Statoil announced in June to have discovered an additional two to three tcf of natural gas in the Piri-1 well and bring the total of in-place volumes up to approximately 20 tcf in Block 2. The increased investment in the oil and gas industry in Tanzania is associated with new improved data which simplify and facilitate easy interpretation.
The government has also allowed TPDC to fully participate in the exploration, development and production to optimize government participation in the industry.
“It is a bold decision for the government to improve its participation. It will participate as other state-run companies we know,” said Kelvin Komba, Ag exploration manager for TPDC. Current players include Statoil, BG, Petrobras, Ophir, Shell, ExxonMobil, Pavilion Energy and TPDC (Development).
