- Published: 26 March 2012
- Written by Editor
Africa Oil Corp.: Oil Discovery at Ngamia-1 Well in Kenya
Africa Oil Corp. ("Africa Oil" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AOI)(OMX:AOI) is pleased to announce an oil discovery on the Ngamia-1 well on Block 10BB, Kenya. Tullow Oil plc ("Tullow") is the operator with a 50% working interest and Africa Oil holds the remaining 50%.
The Ngamia-1 exploration well in Kenya has encountered over 20 metres of net oil pay. The well, located in the Lokichar Basin of Kenya Block 10BB, was drilled to an intermediate depth of 1,041 metres and has been successfully logged and sampled. Moveable oil with API gravity in excess of 30 degrees, with similar properties to the light waxy crude discovered in Uganda, has been recovered to surface. The reservoirs in this section are composed of good quality Tertiary age sandstones. The Lokichar Basin, where the Ngamia discovery has been made, is one of seven basins mapped in Africa Oil's acreage and is similar in size to the 9,000 square kilometre Lake Albert Rift basin in Uganda.
The Ngamia structure is the first prospect to be tested as part of a multi-well drilling campaign in the Tertiary Rift Basin in Kenya and Ethiopia. Many similar leads and prospects to Ngamia have been identified and following this discovery the outlook for further success has been significantly improved.
The well will now be drilled to a depth of approximately 2,700 metres to explore further potential. On completion of operations, the Weatherford 804 rig will move to the Tullow operated Kenya Block 10A where the Paipai-1 wildcat will spud in the second half of 2012. Africa Oil holds a 30% working interest in Block 10A.
Keith Hill, President and CEO of Africa Oil, commented, "We are extremely pleased that the first well in the drilling program has resulted in an oil discovery. These results will significantly de-risk nearby prospects and give encouragement for the remainder of the Tertiary rift basin. We look forward to an aggressive drilling program in next 18 months which will also test the potential of our other rift basin plays in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia."
Africa Oil Corp. is a Canadian oil and gas company with assets in Kenya, Ethiopia and Mali as well as Puntland (Somalia) through its 51% equity interest in Horn Petroleum Corporation. Africa Oil's East African holdings are in within a world-class exploration play fairway with a total gross land package in this prolific region in excess of 300,000 square kilometers. The East African Rift Basin system is one of the last of the great rift basins to be explored. New discoveries have been announced on all sides of Africa Oil's virtually unexplored land position including the major Albert Graben oil discovery in neighbouring Uganda. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and on First North at NASDAQ OMX-Stockholm under the symbol "AOI".
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Keith C. Hill, President and CEO
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, "forward looking statements") relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities, ultimate recovery of reserves or resources and dates by which certain areas will be explored, developed or reach expected operating capacity, that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect, "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, changes in oil prices, results of exploration and development activities, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government or other regulatory approvals, actual performance of facilities, availability of financing on reasonable terms, availability of third party service providers, equipment and processes relative to specifications and expectations and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Africa Oil's Certified Advisor on NASDAQ OMX First North is Pareto Ohman AB.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Africa Oil Corp.
Sophia Shane
Corporate Development
(604) 689-7842
(604) 689-4250 (FAX)
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www.africaoilcorp.com