Anadarko announced that the Barquentine exploration well in the Offshore Area 1 of Mozambique's Rovuma Basin encountered a total of more than 416 net feet of natural gas pay in multiple high-quality sands. Specifically, the discovery well encountered more than 308 net feet of pay in two Oligocene sands that are separate and distinct geologic features, but age-equivalent to those encountered in Anadarko's previously announced Windjammer discovery. The well also found an additional 108 net feet of gas pay in the Paleocene sands, and the seismic data indicates this deeper pay section is contiguous and appears to be connected to the 75 net feet of pay encountered at the Windjammer discovery, located 2 miles to the southwest.

"With the Windjammer, and now Barquentine discoveries, we have identified a substantial natural gas resource and proven that two distinct trap styles are working in this region of the Rovuma Basin, which is very positive for our ongoing exploration program," Anadarko Sr. Vice President, Worldwide Exploration Bob Daniels said. "Based on the high-quality resource and sands encountered to date in both the Barquentine and Windjammer exploration wells, we have begun designing an appraisal program that will better delineate the areal extent of this large accumulation.

"These successful exploration wells in this frontier basin are exciting for the people of Mozambique and for our partnership," said Daniels. "We look forward to working with the government of Mozambique as we carry out our appraisal activity in this area and evaluate potential commercialization options."

The Barquentine exploration well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 16,880 feet, in water depths of approximately 5,200 feet. Once operations are complete at Barquentine, the partnership plans to mobilize the Belford Dolphin drillship approximately 16 miles to the south to drill the Lagosta exploration well, also located in the Offshore Area 1 of the Rovuma Basin.

Anadarko currently holds more than 2.6 million acres in the basin where it has identified more than 50 prospects and leads.

Anadarko is the operator with a 36.5-percent working interest in the Offshore Area 1. Co-owners in the area are Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1, Limited (20 percent), BPRL Ventures Mozambique B.V. (10 percent), Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Limited (10 percent) and Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore, Ltd. (8.5 percent). Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, ep's 15-percent interest is carried through the exploration phase.