Sahara Group’s Upstream division has announced successful results of drilling and testing in OPL274, where it holds a 100% working interest. Sahara’s upstream affiliate Enageed Resource Limited completed the drilling campaign which was initiated following an aggressive 3D seismic acquisition and processing programme.
Noting that the successful drilling was indicative of sustained growth for Sahara’s Upstream division, Mr. Tonye Cole, Executive Director, Sahara Group attributed the achievement to the efforts of the company’s in-house team and commitment of the Group to sustainably grow its footprints across all aspects of the Oil and Gas, Energy and Infrastructure sectors.
According to him: “Today marks a historic occasion for Sahara Group, for its upstream division and for the Nation. Success was achieved in doubling our certified 2P reserves in the Oki-Oziengbe South field and making a new commercial discovery with the Oluegi-1 exploration well. More importantly, this was realized by an indigenous Nigerian independent and all work was done in-house by our dynamic, young team. This is particularly satisfying because as we look ahead, we have a healthy prospect inventory in OPL 274 and several other promising blocks elsewhere in Nigeria and in our growing African opportunity portfolio. This portends well, with years of future drilling activity ahead and sustained growth for Sahara’s Upstream.”
Cole said the feat was also enabled by the support of key stakeholders who stood with the Group through the rigorous process, providing footholds for relief and encouragement that spurred the team. “Not taking for granted the various service contractors who individually and collectively played their part, we would like to appreciate in particular, the good people of Koko, Ajoki and Ajamogha in Edo State, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Diamond Bank Plc all of which were instrumental to our success,” he added.
Also commenting on the milestone, Curtis Cohen, Sahara’s Upstream Chief Operating Officer said the OPL 274 exploration program recorded a number of firsts for Sahara Group. “We shot our first onshore 3D seismic, drilled and operated our first onshore wells, made our first oil discovery and first appraisal, and tested first oil at rates in excess of 5600 barrels of oil per day. We drilled the three wells back-to-back in just ten months, from a common location and a minimal environmental footprint, and all three wells found commercial hydrocarbons. I’m proud of the upstream team’s achievements.”
The Group is now set to tie-into existing facilities to facilitate commencement of First Oil production by Sahara. Four flow lines from Oki-Oziengbe South 4 and 5 well heads will take crude to the Oziengbe South flow station for crude processing. When completed and flowing, oil from Oziengbe S will join NPDC’s 6″ pipelines at Oredo and Ogharefe where it will enter the Forcados trunk line.
