Good news from West Africa, at least for shareholders in both Kosmos Energy (KOS) and BP (BP.) after it emerged that drilling at the Yakaar-2 appraisal well encountered around 30 metres of net gas in a high-quality Cenomanian reservoir.
The find is in keeping with earlier results at the nearby Yakaar-1 exploration well, and it extends the 100 per cent success rate on the inboard Mauritania-Senegal gas trend. It also gives the regional partners (including state-owned petroleum company Petrosen) improved insight into the southern extent of the field, while adding ballast to the partners’ view that “the Yakaar-Teranga resource base is world-scale”.
Down the track, there are development plans for a floating LNG (FLNG) export plan with supplies earmarked for domestic consumption in phase one of the expected production schedule. The Valaris DS-12 rig, which was employed at the Yakaar-2 well, will now move to drill the Orca-1 exploration well located in Mauritania.
The news was particularly significant for Kosmos as it previously announced plans to sell down two-thirds of its existing 30 per cent interest in the Tortue Ahmeyim gas field, which has been estimated to contain up to 50 trillion cubic feet of gas and up to 1bn barrels of oil.
