Kosmos Energy said its Ahmeyim-2 appraisal well has successfully delineated the Ahmeyim and Guembeul gas discoveries offshore Mauritania and Senegal, paving the way for an LNG project in the region.

Located in Mauritanian waters about 5 km northwest and 200 m downdip of the basin-opening Tortue-1 discovery well in about 2,800 m of water, Ahmeyim-2 was drilled to a total depth of 5,200 m.

The appraisal has increased the size of the productive field area from about 50 sq km to 90 sq km.

Kosmos said, “Furthermore, the well confirmed significant thickening of the gross reservoir sequences down-structure and importantly, within the Lower Cenomanian, static fluid pressure communication between the Tortue-1, Guembeul-1 and Ahmeyim-2 wells. The well encountered 78 m of net gas pay in two excellent quality reservoirs, including 46 m in the Lower Cenomanian and 32 m in the underlying Albian. These results demonstrate fieldwide reservoir continuity and indicate Tortue West is a large, simple gas field.”

Andrew G. Inglis, chairman and CEO, said, “Ahmeyim-2 is our fourth successful exploration and appraisal well and continues our 100% success rate in the outboard Cretaceous petroleum system offshore Mauritania and Senegal, further demonstrating that Kosmos has opened a world-class hydrocarbon province. With this well, we believe we have proven sufficient gas resource to underpin a world-scale LNG project in the Tortue West structure alone.

“The combination of the resource size and quality continue to support our view that Tortue is a competitive source of LNG and we are working towards commercialisation.”

Kosmos now plans to drill the first of three independent oil tests in its blocks offshore Mauritania and Senegal, starting with the Teranga-1 well, located in the Cayar Offshore Profond Block offshore Senegal.