Hydrocarbons race heats up in Indian Ocean

Hydrocarbons race heats up in Indian Ocean

Stephen Spark
29 June 2014

Ophir Energy and WHL have begun a 3D seismic survey of a 1,500km2 oil and gas exploration area in Seychelles' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

It is the latest move in the western Indian Ocean's increasingly crowded exploration environment.

Ophir's survey will be conducted by Dolphin Geophysical's seismic vessel Polar Duchess and is expected to take between six and seven weeks.

In April, Russian seismic vessel Akademik Fersman carried out a 2D survey in a different zone on behalf of state hydrocarbons regulator PetroSeychelles and Japanese exploration company JOGMEC. Results of that survey are expected in three to four months.

This was followed in May by PetroSeychelles' two-week geochemical investigation of possible oil-bearing sediments near the Amirante islands using Mg3's survey vessel Jupiter.

Exploration and production company Afren said that results of a 3D survey completed in the Seychelles EEZ last year are imminent.

The UK-based company may be in a position to start exploration drilling in the region by the new year. PetroSeychelles CEO Eddie Belle last year emphasised to IHS Maritime that the country is demanding the strictest environmental standards from energy companies working in its waters.

To test emergency response capabilities, on 2 June the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), Seychelles Ports Authority and emergency services carried out a spill response exercise offshore Mahé. Also taking part were SCG patrol vessel Topaz and EU Navfor's Atalanta flagship FGS Brandenburg.

SCG commanding officer Lt Col Simon Dine said: "Our tourism industry, an integral part of our Blue Economy, must be protected from pollution."

If environmental impact assessments prove satisfactory, ExxonMobil will begin exploratory drilling 70nm offshore Mahajanga, northwest Madagascar.

The company has high hopes for this deepwater region as the geological formation is similar to oil-bearing sectors offshore Mozambique, where Italian company Eni discovered 15Trn cu ft of gas in 2011.

US oil major Anadarko has drilled 25 deepwater wells in the area, tapping deposits of 70Trn cu ft.

The Union of Comoros awarded its first exploration licence two years ago to Kenya's Bahari Resources, which has been granted a block near the Eni and Anadarko finds.

In the Tanzanian sector, Norwegian oil company Statoil, working with ExxonMobil and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, has so far made six offshore gas discoveries, amounting to an estimated 20Trn cu ft.

At the beginning of the month, Odfjell's ultra-deepwater drillship Deep Sea Metro I found gas in a Tanzanian block licensed to Ophir Energy.

Two weeks ago, Britain's BG, in partnership with Pan Continental of Australia and Thailand's PTTEP, announced that it had discovered oil in the Lamu Basin, offshore northern Kenya, adding to onshore oil and gas discoveries in Turkana District. Last week it was claimed in Mauritius that Indian scientists had confirmed the likely presence of oil in the Mauritian EEZ.

The Indian Navy has been carrying out hydrographic surveys in Mauritian waters for several years. Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique are all planning port-based facilities to serve the burgeoning offshore energy industry. The US Geological Survey estimates that the western Indian Ocean hydrocarbons region contains 27.6Bn bbl oil, 441.1Trn cu ft natural gas and 13.77Bn bbl natural gas liquids.

http://www.ihsmaritime360.com/article/13384/hydrocarbons-race-heats-up-in-indian-ocean