Aminex PLC has provided the following update on progress at its Nyuni-2 well, offshore Tanzania.

After successfully mastering the most difficult of the anticipated drilling zones in the well, several days have now been spent attempting to clear rubber debris from a number of centralisers which broke away from a wireline logging tool, in order to be able to complete the logging operation and then attempt to continue drilling. After recovering some of the debris, a good rate of penetration was achieved until 14 September when the remaining junk prevented any further progress. A decision has now been taken to pull back to approximately 3,000 metres, above the area of blockage, and to side-track the well, by-passing the obstruction. Preparation for the side-track will take several days, after which drilling will recommence.

Nyuni-2 is the fourth well to be drilled by Aminex as operator in Tanzania, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Ndovu Resources Ltd., and the fifth one in which it has participated in the country. This well is being drilled using the Caroil Rig-6 to test a Lower Cretaceous age gas target in Neocomian sandstones. It is being drilled from Nyuni Island, in the Indian Ocean, approximately 35km from the coast of Tanzania, at an angle of 30 degrees from vertical and targeting a bottom hole location approximately 1,200 metres to south-east of the surface location.

When drilling is completed, the rig will be used to carry out maintenance work before being rigged down and mobilised to the Ruvuma basin in south-eastern Tanzania, where it is scheduled to commence drilling the Aminex-operated Ntorya-1 exploration well later this year. For reasons of continuity and logistics, Aminex (Ndovu) has taken over operatorship of Ntorya-1 from Tullow Oil, as previously announced.

Elsewhere in Tanzania, a firm order has today been placed with a steel mill for the purchase of coated 6" line pipe to connect the Kiliwani North-1 gas well to gas processing and transportation facilities on Songo-Songo Island.

Tags: Aminex PLC