Tullow Oil makes 1st discovery offshore Guyana

Last Updated on Monday, 12 August 2019, 7:37 by Writer

Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, Monday morning, announced that the UK-based Tullow Oil Plc wholly owned subsidiary Tullow Guyana B.V. discovered oil in commercial quantities.

The oil was found in the Jethro-1 exploration well, drilled in the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana.

The Jethro-1 well was drilled by the Stena Forth drillship to a total depth of 4,400 metres in approximately 1,350 metres of water.

Dr. Bynoe said the Jethro-1 well is the first discovery on the Orinduik Block and comprises high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs of Lower Tertiary age. “This is a major development for the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (CRG) as it adds to the further de-risking of the deep and ultra-deep zone. Furthermore, it offers significant potential for the diversification of the CRG’s hydrocarbon production base,” Dr. Bynoe said.

He explained the well encountered 55m of net oil pay which supports a recoverable oil resource estimate that exceeds Tullow’s pre-drill forecast.

“The Department of Energy (DE) is encouraged by the prolific rate of discovery in the CRG and will continue to work assiduously and conscientiously to extract optimum value from these resources for all the peoples of our country,” the Director said.

Dr. Bynoe reiterated that this new discovery demonstrates the vastness of Guyana’s natural resources while reminding that Guyanese stand to benefit significantly from the oil discoveries and must therefore continue to be aspirational and focused with a transformational mind-set. With this new find, Tullow will now evaluate the data from the Jethro-1 discovery and determine the appropriate appraisal activity.

Dr. Bynoe indicated that the Jethro discovery significantly derisks other Tertiary age prospects on the Orinduik Block, which includes the shallower Upper Tertiary Joe prospect. Drilling should begin there later this month after the completion of operations at the Jethro-1 well.

The Carapa-1 well will be drilled later this year on the adjacent Kanuku licence. Tullow Guyana B.V. operates the Orinduik Block with a 60 per cent stake. Total E&P Guyana B.V. holds 25 per cent stake while the remaining 15 per cent is being held by Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc.