Kosmos Energy Makes 'Significant' Gas Find Offshore Senegal

Kosmos Energy announced Wednesday that the Guembeul-1 exploration well, located in the northern part of the St. Louis offshore profond license area in Senegal, has made a “significant” gas discovery.

Located approximately three miles south of the basin-opening Tortue-1 gas discovery (renamed Ahmeyim) in approximately 8,858 feet of water, Guembeul-1 was drilled to a total depth of 17,208 feet. The well encountered 331 feet of net gas pay in two “excellent quality” reservoirs, according to a company statement, comprising 184 feet in the Lower Cenomanian and 148 feet in the underlying Albian. No water was found with the discoveries.

Kosmos stated that Guembeul-1 demonstrated reservoir continuity and static pressure communication with the Tortue-1 well in the Lower Cenomanian, suggesting a single, large gas accumulation. Based on Guembeul-1 well results, Kosmos estimates that mean gross resources for the Tortue West structure have increased to 11 trillion cubic feet from 8 Tcf. The company also believes that mean gross resource estimates for the Greater Tortue Complex have increased to 17 Tcf from 14 Tcf.

Commenting on the find, Andrew G. Inglis, chairman and chief executive officer of Kosmos Energy, said in a company statement:

“We are pleased to have delivered another major discovery with our first exploration well offshore Senegal. Guembeul-1 confirms the presence of a world class gas resource that extends into both Senegal and Mauritania. With our successful appraisal program and support of both governments, the initial gas development is gaining momentum.

“The Guembeul-1 well continues our 100 percent success rate in the outboard Cretaceous petroleum system offshore Senegaland Mauritania, which we believe is a strategically important new oil and gas province and we are focused on unlocking the basin’s full potential.”

The Atwood Achiever (UDW drillship), which was used to drill the well, will now proceed to Mauritania to drill the Ahmeyim-2 delineation well in the southern part of Mauritania’s Block C-8. Kosmos holds a 60 percent interest in the Guembeul-1 well, along with Timis Corporation Limited at 30 percent and Petrosen at 10 percent.