community hoping drilling is a success

Rig delays drilling of Arua oil well
Thursday, 4th February, 2010 E-mail article Print article

By Frank Mugabi

THE drilling of a second oil well at Avivi-1 in Arua, which was initially to start in the first week of this month, has been delayed due to a hitch in getting a rig.

Peter Kingston, the executive chairman of Neptune Petroleum Uganda, said the process could be delayed for two weeks as they wait for the release of the rig, which is contracted to Tullow Oil in Bunyoro region.

He said the rig, owned by Oil & Gas Exploration Company Cracow, had finished drilling Tullows successful well at Kasamene-2, but there were operational delays in the completion of the well.

We hope that it will be on its way to the site by Friday (today), Kingston said.

He was addressing a residents meeting at Rhino Camp sub-county headquarters on Tuesday.

Over 80 heavy-load trucks are expected to transport the rig to the site. Residents have been cautioned to take extra care during this period.

Several traffic wardens have also been deployed on the Arua-Rhino Camp road to control traffic.

The Avivi-1 well site is 94km north of Kasamene- 2m, but the road route for transporting the rig is
525km.

Kingston reiterated that the prospects at Avivi-1 exploration well where more promising than Iti-1, which was abandoned in June last year for lack of commercially viable hydrocarbons.

He, however, gave no guarantee of success at this well and urged the public to remain patient until they get initial results from the well.

I have to stress that as with the first well, we cant be very sure of what we are going to find, but there are signs that one day oil will be found in this area, Kingston told the residents.

He said the findings from Iti-1 and subsequent evaluation work had greatly improved their understanding of the Exploration Area 5.

He added that even if the oil was to be found it would take some time before actual income was realised.

The company will nevertheless continue with its social investment programmes aimed at uplifting the basic standards in the health, education and water sectors in the area, he said.

He commended the local communities for the wonderful welcome and support they had accorded the company over the last three years.

Speaking at the event, the Arua LC5 chairman, Richard Andama, said the local leaders would keep politics from the exploration activities.

We are not going to politicise oil in Arua like in other areas. We shall let the prospecting take its course because with or without oil we shall continue to live, Ferua said.

He warned that over speculation was a recipe of conflict, especially where misinformation was spread by opportunists.

Security officials and Members of Parliament attended the meeting.