Drilling offshore Gabon by Ophir Energy has ended in disappointment with a duster on the Affanga Deep-1 well.

Using the Vantage Titanium Explorer drillship, the well was drilled in the Gnondo block offshore Gabon to a total vertical depth subsea of 4,240 m (13,907 ft), encountering thinner than expected sandstone with poor reservoir characteristics. Gas and liquid indications were encountered but there were no significant hydrocarbon shows in the well, Ophir indicated, after operating the well with a 100% interest (although OMV was farming in to 30% of the block, subject to government approval).

“Cuttings have confirmed the presence of a Cenomanian oil prone source rock which may have positive implications for the prospectivity of the wider Ogooué Delta outboard play,” Ophir stated, “... and for the Deepwater play to the west of this location.” Analysis is continuing of logs and cuttings from the well.

Affanga Deep-1 was targeting an extension to a proven Ogoue Delta play with mean recoverable resources put at 170?MM bbl.

The drillship will next tackle the pre-salt Okala prospect in the Mbeli block, which is expected to take up to 40 days to drill. Okala will be the last of a three-well campaign by Ophir offshore Gabon using the Titanium Explorer, after the earlier Padouck Deep-1 well targeting a pre-salt play in the Ntsina block was also unsuccessful, followed by the Affanga duster.

After the Gabon wells the Titanium Explorer is due to drill a further three wells for Ophir offshore Equatorial Guinea.

  • Another series of wells is being tackled by Ophir offshore East Africa’s Tanzania using the Deepsea Metro 1 drillship: Ophir’s Mlinzi Mbali 1 well on Block 7 completed early January without any significant hydrocarbon shows. This was followed by Taachui-1 well in Block 1 targeting 1.4 Tcf of gas. A result from this well was expected as DI went to press.

Thereafter the Deepsea Metro 1 is due to carry out a drill stem test on the Mzia-3 well, followed by a well on the Tende-1 prospect in the East Pande block, with the unit then destined for the Kamba/Pwezi North exploration well in Block 4 also offshore Tanzania.

Offshore