Group General Manager, Frontier Exploration Services (GGM, FES), Dr Mazadu D Bako, GGM FES NNPC, says oil drilling in the northern part of the country will commence soon hopefully by August this year, Daily Trust reports.
He disclosed this in a chat with Daily Trust saying that his organization has made a tremendous progress in this regard since President Muhammadu Buhari gave the order for intensive search for hydrocarbon in Nigeria’s inland basins.
According to him, ”Since Mr. President gave the marching order for renewed effort in the search for hydrocarbons at the inland basins, we have made tremendous progress. For the Chad Basin, we actually started the seismic data acquisition in 2010 after we obtained the approval in 2009. Since then, up to November 2014, we had acquired over 1900km2 of 3D seismic data. Prior to that (1976 – 1997) we had drilled 23 wells based on 2D data and only 2 wells encountered non-commercial gas shows. This 3D is an improvement over the 2D which is newer technology.”
Continuing he said, ”From the over 1900km2 (of 3D seismic data) we have interpreted 1500km2 from which we have identified some prospects that have matured for drilling and we have some leads as well that have been identified. These leads will be further de-risked to a point that we can drill. Prior to now in the Benue Trough, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), Chevron and Total had acquired some 2D data. Each of them drilled a well to satisfy the minimum work commitment because they also acquired juicy acreages offshore. They satisfied the minimum commitment and pulled out.”
Only Shell made some find of 33 billion cubic feet (bcf)of gas and they plugged the well and abandoned it. All the same we are going back to look at the whole area and other prospects because the 2D that they acquired we have reinterpreted in-house and seen more leads that we need to pursue. Currently, we are using 3D technology.”
When asked about a significant breakthrough in the renewed search, he said this will take some four to five months, other things being equal.
His words:
”Drilling requires a lot of contractual process and this process is going to be like some 4 to 5 months from now; the contractual process for putting the drilling rigs, accessories, access roads takes some time.”
