Tullow Oil said on Thursday that the Kodos-1 exploration well in the Kerio Basin in Kenya has encountered oil shows.

The oil and gas producer said reservoirs were mixed quality alluvial sands close to the basin boundary fault at the location.

Kodos-1 was drilled to a depth of 2,500 metres. The well is to be plugged and abandoned while drilling in a second well at Epir-1, 25 km north of Kodos-1, will begin shortly.

“The Kodos-1 well is the first test of the Kerio Basin and hydrocarbon shows provide encouragement, indicating the presence of an active petroleum system. The potential of the Kerio Basin remains highly prospective and the rig is now moving to drill the next well, Epir-1, in a sub-basin to the north of Kodos-1,” said exploration director Angus McCoss.

The oil and gas producer said in the South Lokichar Basin, exploration and appraisal wells found substantial sections of oil in varying quality of reservoir sands.

The Ngamia-4 well in Block 10BB continued the successful appraisal of the Ngamia oil field. The well was drilled 1.1 km west of the Ngamia-1 discovery well and successfully encountered up to 120 metres of net hydrocarbon pay, of which up to 80 metres was oil. The well has been suspended for use in future appraisal and development activities.

Testing of the Twiga 2A well produced a maximum rate of 3,270 barrels of oil per day (bopd) under natural flow, the highest production rate seen yet in Kenya. Management believes the well can be optimised to flow up to 10,000 bopd from one of four zones.

“South Lokichar Basin activity continued with exploration and appraisal drilling and well testing. The Ekosowan-1 well encountered a significant interval of oil shows however reservoirs at this location were tight. We look forward to stepping out from Ekosowan towards the Amosing oil field in pursuit of better reservoirs. Appraisal and well testing success continues with Ngamia-4 finding a substantial section of oil pay and Twiga-2A recording our highest flow rates to date,” said Mr McCoss.