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Africa oil will in 2014 shift to synthetic based muds in well drilling in Kenya as the company drives at cutting down well drilling durations.<\/p>\n
The synthetic based muds are a move from Smectile clays which the company in a corporate presentation released earlier this month shows cause hole problems with water based drilling muds.<\/p>\n
Since the drilling on Ngamia 1 in 2012 Africa Oil partner Tullow Oil has cut drilling time by more than 70 percent with the latest well the Ewoi-1 having taken just 20 days for every 1000 meters mark as compared to Ngamia that took 70 days per 1000 meters.<\/p>\n
Other than cutting costs using more efficient drilling methods the company says it is also improving its contracts that could lead in a 25 percent reduction as well as reduced rig move durations and testing offline with more cost efficient test rig.<\/p>\n
Africa Oil says additional rig move, civil engineering and logistical costs have shot up to a range of $25mm to $30mm untested from that of South Lokichar wells now running at $15mm to $20mm untested.<\/p>\n
In the western show of lake Turkana Africa Oil says that it plans to drill 2 wells in Kiboko and Samaki at Block 10BA following the confirmation of a large prospect inventory in the latest seismic.<\/p>\n
The company also plans to drill another 2 wells in the South Kerio basin located in block 10BB where seismic identifies Ngamia style play.<\/p>\n
Further East at the Anza basin (Block 9) Africa oil plans to spud Sala which it says has a potential to extend the Sudan play into Kenya.<\/p>\n
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