Energy ministry plans oil testing laboratory to cut high costsBy...

Energy ministry plans oil testing laboratory to cut high costs

By Zeddy Sambu

Posted Monday, December 17 2012 at 19:48


In Summary

* The Ministry of Energy is seeking partnerships with international prospectors to set up the $20 million (Sh1.7 billion) geochemical laboratory, which would also provide hydrocarbon analysis services for East Africa.

* Presently, tests on off shore oil and onshore gas discoveries at the Mbawa prospect off the Lamu Coast are being tested for commercial viability.


An oil testing laboratory is to be set up in Nairobi to help Kenya save on foreign exchange that is spent on sending soil and rock samples overseas for testing.

The Ministry of Energy is seeking partnerships with international prospectors to set up the $20 million (Sh1.7 billion) geochemical laboratory, which would also provide hydrocarbon analysis services for East Africa.

“We are demanding that oil companies partner with us in capacity building. We are looking at a laboratory for testing oil samples to determine their quality,” said permanent secretary Patrick Nyoike. The region has recently become a hotbed for international prospectors following recent oil and gas discoveries in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Mr Nyoike said Thailand’s exploration firm, PTT Exploration and Production Company, which was the latest entrant to Kenya’s exploration scene through a yet to be concluded deal for five offshore blocks licensed to Cove Energy of the UK, is a potential partner in the project.

Other major explorers like Tullow Oil, Apache and Anadarko that will this week begin spudding of two wells off the Coast of Lamu could also be interested in partnering in the project.

Presently, tests on off shore oil and onshore gas discoveries at the Mbawa prospect off the Lamu Coast are being tested for commercial viability.

Tullow is expected to release a series of flow tests it has been conducting on the Twiga South 1 well by February next year. The UK explorer will then move the rig back to the Ngamia 1 well to begin ‘drill test wells’ needed to determine the viability of the resource discovered early this year.

‘‘It is a priority since the discovery of oil in the country,” said industry expert Mwendia Nyagah. The data includes seismic data, aeromagnetic and gravity data, core samples and drill cuttings as well as Petroleum exploration reports.

All the exploration data acquired since the 1950’s are in the custody of NOCK.

The data includes seismic data, aeromagnetic and gravity data, core samples and drill cuttings as well as Petroleum exploration reports.



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