Tullow oil Plc has announced it has commenced exploration and appraisal campaign for oil wells in the Lake Albert Rift Valley of mid western Uganda.

Following the signing of the SPAs for the farmdown to CNOOC and Total on 29 March 2011, the exploration and appraisal programme has been reactivated and two wells are expected to commence drilling in Exploration Area 1 (EA 1) within the next two weeks. The OGEC 600 rig is preparing to spud the high-impact Jobi-East prospect and the OGEC 750 rig is getting ready to drill the first Mpyo exploratory appraisal well to test its upside potential.

These wells are the start of a major programme of exploration and appraisal drilling, seismic acquisition, and well testing to access the significant remaining upside potential in the basin and further expand the resource base for development.

Commenting today, Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, said:
“Tweneboa-4 is an important milestone as it is the final well to be drilled in the Tweneboa appraisal programme. The upcoming programme of well testing in the Tweneboa field, along with drilling and well testing in the Enyenra field, will provide essential information on well deliverability, dynamic reservoir connectivity and hydrocarbon volumes, which will be used to optimise our development plans for these major fields. We are also delighted to be starting drilling activities again in EA 1 in Uganda and are now gearing up for a five-rig drill-out campaign in the second half of the year.”