Published on: 15 December 2015

Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces that the Etom-2 well in Block 13T, Northern Kenya, has encountered 102 metres of net oil pay in two columns.

The objective of the well was to explore the Etom structure in an untested fault block identified by recent 3D seismic. Oil samples, sidewall cores and wire line logging all indicate the presence of high API oil in the best quality reservoir encountered in the South Lokichar Basin to date. Additional prospectivity identified on the 3D seismic in the north of the basin, including the Erut and Elim prospects, will now be considered as part of the future exploration drilling programme.

The PR Marriott Rig-46 drilled the Etom-2 well to a final depth of 1,655 metres and will now move to Block 12A where it will spud the Cheptuket-1 well around year end, the first well to be drilled in the Kerio Valley Basin.

In Block 10BB, Tullow has completed the Ngamia Extended Well Test with approximately 38,000 barrels of oil produced. The five completed zones of Ngamia-8 were tested at a cumulative rate of 2,400 bopd and all except the lowest zone produced naturally. Communication between the producer well and an observation well at a distance of approximately 500 metres was also demonstrated.

Tullow operates Blocks 13T and 10BB with 50% equity and is partnered by Africa Oil Corporation, also with 50%.

Angus McCoss, Exploration Director, Tullow Oil plc, commented today:

'We are delighted with the Etom-2 well which encountered over 100 metres of net oil play in the best reservoirs in the basin so far. Discovering this thick interval of high quality oil reservoirs further underpins our development options and resource base. The result follows careful evaluation of 3D seismic data which was shot after the Etom-1 well and demonstrates how we have improved our understanding of the South Lokichar Basin. This result also suggests significant potential in this underexplored part of the block as it is the most northerly well we have drilled in South Lokichar and is located close to the axis of the basin away from the basin-bounding fault. Accordingly, we will review the potential of the greater Etom area and neighbouring prospects to decide on our forward programme.'