Tullow hits oil shows in Uganda

Tullow Oil’s Mputa-1 exploration well in Uganda has encountered oil shows over two intervals within the deeper objective and wireline logs have indicated that these intervals are hydrocarbon-bearing.

A wireline pressure and sampling programme has begun and oil samples have been recovered from the first such interval, a sand of approximately 10 metres gross thickness at a depth of 965 metres.

The sampling programme is continuing and will include the lower interval, where evidence of hydrocarbons has also been encountered.

The well will be plugged and abandoned upon completion of the wireline sampling programme.

Any production testing of Mputa-1 will be considered in conjunction with future drilling. The rig will then move to the Waraga-1 location approximately 20 kilometres to the north-east of Mputa-1.

The company says that further work will be required before any comment can be made on the size or commercial significance of the potential resource.

Chief executive Aidan Heavey said: “The initial results of the Mputa-1 well are very significant in that they prove the existence of a working petroleum system in the Albertine Basin, where Tullow has a 50% equity interest throughout.

“While it is too early to determine the size or potential commerciality of Mputa-1, the results significantly reduce the risk of the prospects mapped in Blocks 2 and 3A.

“We now look forward to the drilling of the Waraga-1 well in Block 2 and the Kingfisher prospect in Block 3A.”