Tullow strikes more oil at Erut 1 well

British oil explorer Tullow has discovered more oil in its northern Kenya oil block, further boosting the country’s prospects.

Tullow, which resumed exploration activity in December, discovered oil at its Erut 1 well in the south Lokichar basin that it says is very encouraging to its ongoing activities.

Kenya has estimated 750 million barrels of recoverable crude oil.

Tullow Oil Exploration Director Angus McCoss said the new discovery does not change the firm’s views of prospective resources in the country.

“This discovery does not change Tullow’s view of view of prospective resources. We won’t be able to do that until later in our exploration and appraisal (E&A) campaign. It is important to realize that with an onshore project like this, that we will always add to our resources in relatively small steps and as we go along,” Mr McCoss said.

The company is set to start producing 2,000 barrels of crude oil daily for early small-scale exports as part of the government’s plan to test the global market.

Tullow has at the same time said it does not plan to scale back exploration activity in Kenya.

“This extends the known hydrocarbon limits of the basin beyond the successful Etom discovery into the under explored northern part of the basin where we have several un-drilled prospects. Following the scheduled appraisal wells at Amosing-6 and Ngamia-10, further exploration drilling of this area is now being planned,” he said.

This comes a week after the firm sold a significant part of its stake in the Ugandan oil project to french oil company Total.