New prospects for Kenyan oil production

A second oil find in Kenya by Tullow Oil may see the start of oil production.

Already a successful oil explorer in Uganda, Tullow Oil has received a further boost to its African activity with its discovery of 30 metres of oil at its Twiga South-1 exploration well, plus a layer of so-called tight oil at more nearly 800m.

Ireland-based Tullow is confident that there will be also be oil and gas in neighbouring areas of Kenya and Ethiopia.

Kenya's first oil discovery was at Tullow's Ngamia well in the north of the country. Tullow’s Chief Executive Officer, Aidan Heavey, said earlier this year that Kenya may have more potential than neighbouring Uganda.

The next steps are for Tullow, together with its partner Africa Oil Corp, to conduct a series of flow tests at Twiga over the next rew months, followed by the rig being moved back to the Ngamia-1 well.  Tullow expects a result from its Paipai-1 well in Kenya by the end of the year and will begin drilling the Sabisa-1 well in Ethiopia next year.