Tullow Oil makes non-commercial discovery with Araku-1 exploration well

Tullow Oil has announced that the Araku-1 exploration well, offshore Suriname, has been drilled to a total depth of 2,685 m and has penetrated the objectives of the Araku prospect. No significant reservoir quality rocks were encountered, although logging and sampling proved the presence of gas condensate. The well is now being plugged and abandoned. Important geological insights gained from this well, in combination with high-quality 3D seismic data, have de-risked deeper plays that offer significant future exploration potential in the group’s acreage.

The Araku well was drilled in Block 54 in water depths of approximately 1,000 m using the Noble Bob Douglas drillship. Tullow Oil operates Block 54 with a 30% interest, alongside joint venture partners Statoil (50% interest) and Noble Energy (20% interest).

“The Araku-1 well was an ambitious wildcat exploration well that was drilled efficiently and at very low cost,” said Angus McCoss, Exploration Director. “While we have not made a commercial discovery, we are encouraged by recovering gas condensate from the well and remain fully committed to exploration in Suriname and Guyana. Tullow continues to pursue the considerable prospectivity and potential of this large license and the wider region. We will now consider our next steps with our joint venture partners.”