Africa-focused oil firm Afren announced Monday that the operator of the Nunya-1X exploration well on the Keta block, offshore Ghana, has begun drilling. The Nunya-1X (formerly called ‘Cuda-2′) well is being drilled using the Marianas (7,000’ ABS) semi-submersible drilling rig.
Eni Ghana, the operator, holds 35 percent of the Keta block as does Afren. Mitsui and GNPC hold 20 percent and 10 percent respectively.
The Nunya prospect is a four-way dip closed structure with a primary reservoir target comprising Upper Cretaceous deep-marine fan sandstones that are analogous to those that have already yielded significant discoveries elsewhere along the West Africa Transform Margin, said Afren.
“We are pleased to have commenced drilling at the Nunya prospect offshore Ghana where we are looking to test the regionally proven Upper Cretaceous play that has yielded successful results elsewhere along the West Africa Transform Margin,” said Afren Chief Executive Osman Shahenshah.
“Having made a successful start to our 2012 exploration drilling campaign with the Okoro East discovery, and with the JS-2 exploration well drilling ahead in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, the company is firmly engaged in its most active phase of exploration activity to date with multiple wells planned across Afren’s core areas, each of which has the potential to materially increase the company’s discovered reserves base.”
