Kosmos to pursue LNG project as it ups resource estimate offshore Mauritania
DALLAS -- Kosmos Energy’s Ahmeyim-2 appraisal well has successfully delineated the Ahmeyim and Guembeul gas discoveries offshore Mauritania and Senegal.
Located in Mauritanian waters, approximately 5 km northwest, and 200 m downdip of the basin-opening Tortue-1 discovery well in approximately 2,800 m of water, Ahmeyim-2 was drilled to a total depth of 5,200 m.
As anticipated, in the Lower Cenomanian and Albian, Ahmeyim-2 penetrated the seismic-inferred gas-water contacts, defining the field limit and extending the productive field area from approximately 50 km2 to 90 km2. 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 field-wide reservoir continuity and indicate Tortue West is a large, simple gas field.
With the integration of the Ahmeyim-2 well results, Kosmos’ Pmean gross resource estimate for the Tortue West structure has increased to 15 Tcf from 11 Tcf as a result of extending the field area in the Cenomanian and the Albian. Accordingly, the Pmean gross resource estimate for the Greater Tortue Complex has increased to over 20 Tcf from 17 Tcf.
“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 commercialization,” said Andrew G. Inglis, chairman and CEO.
“Our well-to-seismic calibration has again been proven, highlighting the reliability of this tool and increasing our confidence in its use for fully unlocking the basin, which we believe has significant potential for both oil and gas. We now plan to drill the first of three independent oil tests in our blocks offshore Mauritania and Senegal, starting with the Teranga-1 well, located in the Cayar Offshore Profond block, offshore Senegal,” Inglis added.
Since 2012, Kosmos has held rights to conduct exploration in the C-8, C-12, and C-13 contract areas under production sharing contracts with the government of Mauritania’s Société Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier (SMHPM). Kosmos operates the Ahmeyim-2 well with 90% equity and is joined by its partner SMHPM at 10%.
