EAGE Newsletter Africa by EAGE

EAGE NEWSLETTER

AFRICA

Issue-1 2017

Bringing EAGE services to the region

Why not customize training for your organization

EAGE Eastern Africa Petroleum Geoscience Forum in Maputo from 7-9 November – ‘Managing Subsurface Risk in Finding and Developing Chris Ward EAGE president 2016-2017

espite the challenging times in the industry I am glad to say we are holding steady on our commitment to increase access to our services and events in the African region. This year we are looking at three exciting events in the region. The Oil, Gas & Mines Africa Conference (OGMA) being held on 9-11 May in Nairobi is a first-time international event dedicated to featuring the growing oil, gas and mining sectors in East Africa. Another event being held for the first time is the First EAGE/ ASGA Petroleum Exploration Workshop on 2-4 October in Luanda discussing challenges and solutions for deep water exploration offshore Angola. Last but not least, the upcoming Third

Trivia Question Equatorial Guinea this year joined OPEC. 1 - C an you name all 14 countries which are now members? 2 - When was OPEC founded? 3 - Which countries set up the organization? 4 - W ho was the first secretary general of OPEC? 5 - W ho is the current secretary general of OPEC?

Hydrocarbons’ targets the geoscience issues in East African E&P. EAGE has also supported and exhibited at a number of conferences and exhibitions in Africa including such big events as EGYPS in Cairo, Egypt that took place in February, as well as WAIPEC Lagos the same month. I was also honoured to participate at NAPEC from 21-24 March in Oran. We will be supporting our Associate Society SAGA at its 15th Conference and Exhibition from 10-13 September in Cape Town. In addition EAGE and AAPG together with NAPE will run a special technical session on ‘Application of New Technologies to Exploration in Africa’ at the 35th NAPE Annual Conference and Exhibition from 19-23 November in Lagos. We are looking forward to this cooperation and I am more than sure it will lead to a great success. My year in office comes to an end at the Annual Meeting in Paris in June, but I would like to think that the challenging business environment affecting many members has been top of our agenda. This year the EAGE offered to those qualifying the possibility of a membership subscription waiver, a registration fee waiver for Paris 2017 as well as support to attend short courses. We also tailored our events schedule to ensure that they are cost effective at the cost of a few postponements and cancellations. In-house there has been a concerted effort to reduce operational and staff costs. I must pay tribute to all our staff for working within tough budgetary constraints and still producing the quality of service that members expect. The only frustration has been the transition to a new IT system.

Answers on p. 5 Read more on p. 2 ➤

Short course in Vienna 2016.

id you know that you can have an EAGE short course specially tailored for your organization held on your own premises? Our short courses are available for participants interested in further developing their knowledge through industry specific programmes presented by our members, both industry professionals and academics. EAGE offers a wide range of classroom training, and most of the short courses are available as in-house training. These can be organRead more on p. 2 ➤

What's inside Snapshot of an Angola geoscientist

Prof El-Kaliouby on near surface electromagnetics

Total’s West African deep water moves And more …

EAGE UPDATE

Bringing EAGE services to the region Continued from p. 1

We have still managed to keep on track fulfilling our goals of globalization, membership growth, and establishing EAGE as a one-stop for knowledge and community for geoscientists. In terms of our global reach, the launch of our regional office for the African continent, initially working from Dubai, is already paying dividends in serving our existing members in the region as well as attracting new members wanting to benefit from our offerings. Elsewhere the Latin American office in Bogota, Colombia is now fully operational and we are also finding fruitful ways to cooperate with local societies to extend our footprint around the world, not just in Africa but in new relationships in China, India, Indonesia and Australia. Formation of Local Chapters, bringing in Associated Societies and focusing on the growth of our Student Chapters of which there are now over 70 worldwide have all helped to keep our membership stable at around 19,000. The growth in student-related programmes including the support of student organized events, special lectures, the FIELD Challenge, Boot Camps and other initiatives is especially important for our future.

EAGE Newsletter Africa Executive Director Marcel van Loon (ml@eage.org) Regional Manager Africa Raymond Cahill (rcl@eage.org) Account Manager Advertising & Subscriptions Daan van Ommen (don@eage.org) EAGE Africa Office Dubai Knowledge Village Block 13 Office F-25 PO Box 501711 Dubai, United Arab Emirates • +971 4 369 3897 • africa@eage.org • www.eage.org Submission of articles communications@eage.org Newsletter on the Web www.eage.org

Map of EAGE Local Chapters and Student Chapters.

This year the Board approved the release of

Annual Meeting, we are significantly increasing

€5 million over five years from the Association’s savings to review and improve what we can offer the membership. This investment in the future is possible thanks to prudent management over time of our finances. As for being a one-stop shop, we of course have the Annual Conference and Exhibition, this year in Paris, the largest and unarguably the best multi-disciplinary event of its kind. Our annual Near Surface Geoscience event (Malmö in September) is also world class and attracting increasing attention in its new format combining more than one conference. Our calendar of events attracts an excellent level of attendance covering a very wide range of disciplines. Diversity was one of my personal goals for the year. Near surface activities are increasing. At the

the papers devoted to geological topics. We are also addressing the lack of sufficient regional representation in various areas such as publications and awards. Diversity refers to people too. The vitality of the Women’s Special Interest Group is very positive and we are striving to facilitate proper representation of the membership worldwide in the governance of the Association. At the end my term as EAGE president, I must thank my colleagues on the Board for their support during a challenging year, and management and staff worldwide for their work. I also cannot say enough in gratitude to the countless volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to the Association. Lastly I thank you, the members, for allowing me the privilege to serve as your president.

Why not customize training for you organization Continued from p. 1

ized at your own facilities and customized to better fit with the needs of the company. In-house courses are usually suited for a group of 10-20 participants, although a larger group can be accommodated. The course can be complemented with a consultation session, if needed. EAGE instructors are carefully selected by the EAGE Education Committee, and the contents of the courses are evaluated regularly to ensure that they stay up-to-date and at a high professional level. Most instructors are flexible and can customize the curriculum with individual preferences and training needs.

An important benefit of the EAGE in-house format is lower cost. It is often more cost effective to have courses delivered at venues of your choice rather than you and your staff having to travel to another location. Engaging in training as a group and undertaking activities and discussions together can also serve as a team-building exercise, strengthening the bonds between your employees, refreshing your team’s skills and boosting their confidence. On the Learning Geoscience website you can find an overview of all the short courses which includes a description if it is available as in-house course. For any questions or requests please contact EAGE Events team (education@eage.org).

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

EAGE UPDATE

Snapshot of an Angola geoscientist Jeorge J. Muhongo is a geoscientist working for Sonangol who has just helped EAGE start its Angola Local Chapter of which he is the first president. He has also been involved in the committee formed by the Association of Geophysics of Angola (ASGA) and EAGE to organize the first workshop on deepwater exploration to be held in October in Luanda. In his career to date, Jeorge, who graduated in geology in 2008 from the Faculty of Science, Agostinho Neto University, has worked on project in underground water supply, as well as oil and gas research. How did the EAGE Local Chapter in Angola come about? It arose as a result of the partnership between ASGA and EAGE. What is your role as president of the Chapter? To bring together different geoscientists through the exploration workshop and others activities under the aegis of the Local Chaper.

Can you tell us a little bit about your job at Sonangol? My job is to monitor exploration activities in some blocks and participate as a member of the resources evaluation team. What influenced you to make geology the focus of your work and studies? I was born in a small village where there are many outcrops and this has already created a great passion for me.

Have you an idea what will be the main focus of discussion at the forthcoming deep water exploration workshop organized by ASGA and EAGE? The main focus will be to share knowledge and use of high technology in the context of the challenges set by the low price of oil.

In your career to date, what would you say have been the highlights? I would mention my involvement in different exploration project such as the Kwanza onshore oil and gas project and of course representing EAGE!

Are there any further collaborative projects with EAGE in the pipeline? Yes, there are, mainly involving the service companies.

Would you encourage young people in Angola to join the oil industry as a career? Yes, because the oil industry is the most attractive nowadays but in Angola we have other in-

Jeorge J. Muhongo.

teresting areas such as mining to which geoscientist need to pay attention. How has the low oil environment affected oil and gas business in Angola? The environment has reduced offshore investments and has created unemployment.

Nigerian students set their own creative writing test!

Members of the Student Chapter of Ebonyi State University in Nigeria.

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

AGE is supporting an initiative by the Student Chapter of Ebonyi State University in Nigeria to participate in a creative writing contest entitled ‘Innovation Science of Geology and Earth History’. A fundamental part of EAGE’s mission is to assist students from around the world who are considering or intending a career in the geosciences or related disciplines. The idea of the essay competition is to promote thinking about the possibilities of inferring and reconstructing the earth’s history using the innovative science of geology. The Association recognizes that in a competitive environment for recruiting the next generation of skilled professionals, students

need to be encouraged to participate in programmes that will increase their scientific and technical knowledge but also introduce them to the many opportunities offered by the professions represented in the EAGE community. Understanding the complexities of the earth’s history vis-á-vis the sequence of events with respect to time requires a core knowledge of certain geoscientific tools. Ability to properly explain the nature of the earth as it evolves assists in the exploration process as it gives us a clue to possible scenarios and information about the paleoenvironment, paleoclimate, paleogeography, etc. For more information, please contact the Local Chapter eage.ebsusc@gmail.com.

EAGE UPDATE

SLT presenter is advocate for EM and near surface geoscience Hesham El-Kaliouby is currently presenting a student lecture tour (SLT) on near surface electromagnetics with African venues on his route. Hesham is professor of geophysics at the National Research Center (NRC) of Egypt having previously worked in various research and consultancy positions at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), Lancaster University, UK, and King Abdulaziz University (KAU). He received his PhD degree in geophysics (2001) from Cairo University through a joint education programme with the University of Arizona, where he also served for two years as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2014, Hesham inspired the founding of the EAGE Student Chapter at SQU and was the first faculty advisor. In 2015 SQU was voted second best EAGE student chapter. many research disciplines including geophysics and earth sciences. One of its roles is to connect academia with industry to better serve the community. As an academic, how do you stay in touch

Student enthusiasm is an inspiration for founding new Chapters.

Why did you choose to follow geophysics as a career, and did your family approve? Geophysics is one of the most exciting careers as you always work with different problems that challenge you to explore and come up with solution or interpretation. It also serves humanity by discovering natural resources that make our lives more convenient. Family approved it as they found me enjoying working in this career. Actually, it is another challenge to balance career and family. How did EM become a special interest to you? When I was a student, I noticed that all the attention was going towards seismic methods for O&G exploration. I was interested in exploring and studying in depth other geophysical techniques. So, I did my MSc and PhD in EM. I found that it was a very interesting technique that has a lot of applications and research opportunities. Is EM sufficiently recognized as a new surface tool, and how does it compare with other near surface imaging technology? EM is one of the leading geophysical tools in surface, airborne, shipborne and borehole surveys. The beauty of EM is that it can be applied from many platforms as it does not require a direct contact with the ground as in inductive EM techniques.

with technology developments? Subscription to regional and international societies like EAGE, enable me to follow up the latest research trends and technology developments through reading the technical journals and attending annual meetings and workshops that present the state of the art in geosciences.

Are there some special applications of EM in the Middle East/Africa? One of the challenges in arid regions such as the Middle East and Africa is the exploration for groundwater and mineral resources. These targets can directly be detected by EM techniques. EM has recently been used to support seismic method for hydrocarbon exploration, where seismic surveys are expensive or ineffective as in extreme terrain or subsalt imaging. Joint inversion of EM and seismic data has proved to be a successful technique to get a reliable model of the

What prompted you to found the EAGE student chapter at SQU? When I joined Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in 2012, there was an SEG chapter and I noticed that students were excited to participate in geophysical activities. I worked towards founding another geophysical chapter to expand the opportunity for many students to take part in more activities like SLT, GeoQuiz, Field Challenge, student forums, and workshops. SQU Chapter hosted a student forum for Middle East universities in 2014 and won the second best EAGE

subsurface.

chapter in 2015.

What will be the main objectives of your student lecture tour, and what would you like students to take away from the course? I would like to share my knowledge and enthusiasm about EM with the students and open new horizons for them to consider it in their careers in geophysics. The take home message is that there are a lot of research and career opportunities in EM that require enthusiastic and talented young persons to pursue.

Are there sufficient job opportunities for students to follow a career in near surface geoscience? With the decline in oil prices and the limited work opportunities in O&G industry, near surface geophysics lend itself as good career in geophysics as it has a wide spectrum of applications including but not limited to hydrogeological and environmental studies; geotechnical and engineering investigations of buildings and road construction sites; location and identification of utilities and unexploded ordnance; minerals resources; waste site characterization; contaminate plume delineation; and forensic investigations.

What is the role of the NRC in Cairo where you work? The NRC is one of the main research centres in Egypt and the Middle East that works in

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICAâ&#x20AC;&#x192; ISSUE-1â&#x20AC;&#x201A;2017

EAGE UPDATE

Look out for an exciting Copenhagen 2018

openhagen in 2018 is already on the radar for EAGE’s 80th Annual Conference and Exhibition on 11-14 June next year. Pierre Lanfranchi, chair of the Local Advisory Committee and head of Subsurface Technology, Maersk Oil, says preparations and planning are underway to ensure a timely, relevant and compelling conference under the umbrella theme of ‘Opportunities Presented by the Energy Transition’. The city of Copenhagen has itself made regional and international headlines for its own energy transition journey. Its ambitious target is to be carbon neutral by 2025. The city’s social, economic and environmental development are all being undertaken with a view to achieving that goal; so

Copenhagen will host the conference at an interesting juncture, according to Lanfranchi. ‘Many of us have been grappling with serious challenges in the low oil price environment. It is more important than ever that, as geoscientists, we are energetic, inquisitive and creative in meeting these challenges. Staying abreast of the latest research, developments and looking to the future of our industry together makes each EAGE event an invaluable opportunity for all of us to enhance our knowledge and expand our professional horizons’. The programme for 2018 will once again be organized in cooperation with SPE EUROPEC, emphasizing the multi-disciplinary character of

evening and other social events. During the conference days, the opening session and various forums will feature discussion by international executives and technology experts on some of the main issues facing the industry today. There are meetings, too, of the EAGE’s women’s and young professionals’ special interest groups with guest speakers. The event venue will be the Bella Center Copenhagen, which is among Europe’s leading fair and conference centers. It offers a fully unique central location with a motorway, metro and buses right to the front door, and just a five-minute drive from an international airport and a bridge to the rest of Scandinavia. The city will be at its best in June: the

there could be no more suitable place to host us. Impressive leaps are being made in the transition to renewable energy, not just in Copenhagen but worldwide. However, for many years ahead, the geoscience community will continue to play an essential role in the discovery of new and viable resources, as well their safe and responsible production.

this geoscience event, the biggest of its kind in the world. It will include the conference with over 1000 technical oral and poster presentations; a major exhibition showcasing latest developments in geophysics, geology and reservoir/ petroleum engineering; workshops; excursions; short courses; a comprehensive programme for students; plus the always popular conference

combination of fine food, scenic waterfront living and the unique Scandinavian light means is has much to offer. With so many compelling reasons to put the EAGE Annual 2018 on the calendar for next year, make sure to keep updated on the website (www.eageannual2018.org). Note that the Call for Abstracts opens on 1 August.

Maputo forum offers opportunity to update on East Africa’s petroleum geoscience challenges

Maputo waterfront.

hey say good things come in threes. That is certainly the case for the EAGE which is busy preparing for the Third Eastern African Petroleum Geoscience Forum, to be held on 7-9 November 2017 in Maputo, Mozambique. With the theme of ‘Managing Petroleum Subsurface Risk in Finding and Developing New Reserves’, the forum is expected to provide a platform to share knowledge and identify appropriate technologies to fill gaps and reduce uncertainties. The aim is to build on the previous two successful meetings and encourage innovative approaches and open dialogue to improve

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

the understanding of the petroleum geology of Eastern Africa. Following recent acreage awards in Mozambique, the scene is set for a new wave of exploration activity. In today’s low oil-price environment

showcase interesting wells from key operators such as Sasol, Anadarko, ENI, and ERCL. A ‘Young Talent’ student poster session will also feature in the programme. This will give local students an opportunity to present their work,

and uncertain global outlook, the economic challenge is greater than ever, so the onus is to reduce risk and increase efficiency. Governments, academia, service industry and energy companies will need to work together to meet the challenge to deliver further, commercially viable reserves. We anticipate a blend of local expertise and international geoscientists and engineers to participate, so delegates can expect an interactive environment with presentations, guest speakers, discussion sessions and an opportunity to appreciate the rich culture that is to be found in Eastern Africa. In addition to the highly anticipated technical programme, highlights for the event include a cores display workshop set to be hosted by The National Petroleum Institute (INP) in their cores facility just outside Maputo. The workshop will

build links and have their voices heard. Registration for the workshop opens on 1 August. Contact africa@eage.org for more information.

Trivia answers 1 - A lgeria, Angola, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Venezuela. 2 - 1 960. 3 - I ran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. 4 - D r Fuad Rouhani (Iran). 5 - M ohammed Sanusi Barkinda (Nigeria).

EAGE UPDATE

From Nigeria to the UK: a challenging transition Veronica Omofoma is just completing her PhD at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh having moved 10 years ago from Nigeria to the UK. She obtained a MEng (1st) in Electronic Engineering from The University of Hull and an MSc (Merit) in Petroleum Geophysics from Imperial College, London. Winner of a number of academic honours, she has participated in the mentoring programme introduced by EAGE’s Women in Geoscience and Engineering. We asked Veronica about her transition from Nigeria and her vision for the future. How did you end up studying in the UK? I was introduced to this possibility in secondary school through education agencies. I was encouraged by my family, who initially, were apprehensive, however became convinced by my excellent high school results and subsequently have been very supportive. There were initial challenges that had to be considered like affordability, the traps of freedom at that age or dangers of flying the nest. All of that was overcome by the quality of education on offer and the chance to immerse myself in a new culture. What attracted you to electronics? I’ve always been fascinated with how things work, especially electronic gadgets, the parts we can’t see like telephones, scientific calculators, televisions, etc, I believe that’s where my interest stemmed from. It aligned with my academic performance as I consistently did much better in physics and mathematics than any other subject. The prospect of studying in the UK, being among the top most technologically advanced countries in the world in the last decade, made me very excited to translate that fascination into quality training to place me at the forefront of innovation in this area.

Veronica in action on a field trip.

fuelled my PhD studies in time-lapse (4D) data integration. For me, the concept of 4D has advanced the geoscience industry, not just in technology improvements concerning acquisition and processing, but in the attitude shift to a more multidisciplinary integration for reservoir management.

Was it difficult to adapt to life in the UK? Yes and no. Yes, because any change from an environment you are used to is challenging at

Has there been a particular highlight in your academic life to date? A couple actually, my first class grade and award

first, for example the weather was the most difficult thing to adjust to. The unpredictable nature of the British climate still makes me chuckle. It was also difficult to be apart from family, but with regular visits to and from family, this became easier. No, because some of the social and cultural nuances have consistently been practiced in Nigeria so adapting was not too hard. Even so, there were subtle culture shocks across several aspects ranging from the cuisine to the right hand drive.

from the Institute of Engineering and Technology for the best overall student performance in electronics during my undergraduate studies in 2011 stands out. Entering the BG Group geoscience competition in 2015 and winning the first prize out of over 50 PhD UK students was an uplifting experience, to say the least. Presenting my PhD research at the EAGE conference in 2015 and a second time in 2016, were also strong highlights for me. When your studies are complete, do you want to continue in academia or get a job in industry? After almost a decade in academia, I would like to try my hand in industry and translate my varied academic experience into practical real-time solutions. I would always consider academia should the right opportunities arise.

What areas of geoscience excite you most? From my first lecture on time-lapse (4D) data interpretation, during my MSc Petroleum Geophysics course, I developed the strong interest that still drives me to continuously explore more and

Have you found the EAGE’s Women in Geoscience and Engineering mentoring programme valuable and would you recommend it to others? Anyone who took part in the WGE mentoring programme would have found it rewarding. Personally, the support from the programme, the Association and the relationship with my mentor made it worthwhile. I would definitely recommend it to others. Would you ever consider returning to work in Nigeria? Nigeria is home so I will always consider working there. I am, however, almost entirely focused on pursuing professional growth in the UK with a view to someday working across both locations should the opportunity arise. What are your favorite pastimes outside of work? When I can steal some time away from the demands of my PhD, I do like reading books, articles and watching TED talks. I also enjoy helping out in my local church and getting stuck into sports. Track, table tennis, lawn tennis, and snooker are all re-emerging as passions of mine.

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

EAGE UPDATE

We want to hear from you!

hen we put this newsletter together, we often say that it would be great if our readers

contributed with their own stories and opinions. Sharing personal experiences really helps to build a feeling of professional community. If this appeals to you, why don’t you give it a go! We would like to invite you to tell us what’s going on in your local geoscience world, or about something that interests/ concerns you. Could be an event, a development in your company, technology issues, tips on job-seeking, observations about life as a geoscientist, etc. Basically we would

welcome anything you think would be of interest to share with professional colleagues in your region. One idea would be a regular blog, which some of our newsletters now have. Items don’t need to be long, a few paragraphs is plenty, and if there is a photo available, then even better. Please give this opportunity some serious thought, and make this your newsletter. Best way to get started is to contact us via communications@eage.org.

Angola workshop will get into deep water!

AGE and ASGA (Angolan Geophysical Association) are joining forces to organize the First EAGE/ASGA Workshop on Petroleum Exploration themed ‘Challenges and Solutions for Deep Water Exploration in Angola’. The event will be held from 2–4 October 2017 in Luanda, Angola. The collaboration follows the initiative in July 2016, when ASGA led by Horacio Domingos Fortunato helped EAGE to establish the EAGE Local Chapter Angola. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place in the presence of Anibal Silva, State Secretary of Oil & Gas, attended by around 100 representatives from the government, oil and gas companies and geophysical service providers.

A golden opportunity for geoscientists to brainstorm over issues related to West African exploration. ASGA, an Associated Society of EAGE since 2011, is providing EAGE with abstracts of papers and proceedings from past and upcoming events so they can be published on EarthDoc. The aim of the workshop will be to address some of the challenges faced by Angolan deep

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

water explorers. The event constitutes a golden opportunity for geoscientists to brainstorm over issues related to West African exploration, including but not restricted to: pre-salt imaging, CO2 predictions, operational efficiency, the new frontier Namibe Basin, and the ultra deep water Congo Basin. Also there will be analysis of the recent pre-salt campaign, which provided a different outcome to expectations, with possible technical strategies that could prove helpful in replicating the success of pre-salt exploration in the Santos and Campos Basins in Brazil. The last three decades have played host to Angola’s deep water exploration efforts, which are generally viewed as extremely successful. For the most part, exploration efforts were restricted to the Congo Basin. From the early 1990s to 2014, in excess of 110 discoveries were made yielding over 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent within the basin. By 2010, wildcats had a better than 50% success ratio, however, the size of discoveries declined significantly from those made in the mid 1990s. The exploration of the Congo Basin was followed by the pre-salt exploration of the Kwanza Basin triggered in part by the presalt successes in the Santos and Campos Basins offshore Brazil. Although some presalt exploration within the Kwanza basin took place prior to 2000, a large pre-salt exploration campaign formally started in 2011 with contracts for new exploration acreage within the Angolan deep water Congo and Kwanza/ Benguela Basins. Discoveries by Maersk and

On the water’s edge, Luanda.

then a string of discoveries by Cobalt seemed to suggest that the Kwanza Basin was likely to yield similar results to those of the Santos and Campos Basins. Disappointingly, after the initial successes, the subsequent series of wells were unsuccessful, sub-commercial or encountered gas and condensate rather than oil in large commercial volumes. In addition, a number of wells encountered CO2, sometimes associated with dry gas or even condensate. Keep an eye out for registration to this exciting workshop which opened on 1 June. Please go to events.eage.org for more information.

EAGE UPDATE

OGMA encore planned following successful inaugural event

Packed audience for the opening.

Exploration and Multi-Property Mapping with Airborne Geophysics. Other presentations were delivered by Kazakh National Technical University and AON Kenya. The full day of presentations was summed up by the Chairman and officially closed. As EAGE had a booth at the exhibition where a student from the Petroleum Geoscience Department at the University of Kenya dropped by. That chance meeting gave birth to a new Student Chapter! Raymond invited the student to bring some of his colleagues to join the technical sessions of day two. Having

EAGE’s Raymond Cahill discusses latest developments.

where EAGE was present and spoke about the

op Kenyan dignitaries, including Dr Martin Heya, Commissioner, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, and senior representatives from the region’s oil industry, were on hand to welcome EAGE’s first conference and exhibition in Nairobi. Oil, Gas and Mines Africa (OGMA) two-day conference and three-day exhibition took place from the 9-11 May at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, a successful collaborative effort between OmanExpo and Trade and Fairs East Africa for which a second event is already

upcoming events in Luanda and Maputo later in the year which the Association is supporting. John-Bosco Tindyebwa of MTL Consulting then led the afternoon session on the mining sector of East Africa. He and Cedric Simonet, president of Kenyan Chamber of Mines, outlined some enlightening facts and figures about the industry in East Africa and it potential investment points. This was followed up by a panel discussion moderated by Tina Nduta of the East Africa Extractives Network and joined by Cliff Ortega of Standard & Mutual and Tom James, a mining expert from Akili Mineral Services. Together they took on the challenging topics of mining and exploration in East Africa with case studies in Tanzania and discussion as to whether they could be replicated in other Eastern African countries. Day two focused on the oil and gas sector and delivered several top class technical pres-

in the planning. Raymond Cahill, EAGE Regional Manager Africa introduced the afternoon conference programme. He reiterated EAGE’s commitment to Africa and highlighted some of the recent events

entations from local, regional and international speakers. The delegates were treated to presentations from the Petroleum Prospectivity of Offshore Lamu Basin, Non-welded Interface from Seismic Reflections, and Airborne Gravity for

Line up of opening day participants.

participated in the meeting, the students were all for forming a Chapter to benefit from EAGE support. This was just one success story for the event. There was no doubt about the commitment of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, the strong feedback from the delegation and exhibitors and the wish from the organizing partners to further expand the event in Eastern Africa. So watch out for a second edition to be announced in the very near future.

There was no doubt about the commitment of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. For more information on EAGE’s activities in Africa feel free to contact Raymond Cahill on rcl@eage.org or africa@eage.org and he will be delighted to take you through our future plans.

Help for currently unemployed

id you know that EAGE has special arrangements for members currently in between jobs? At EAGE, we recognize the importance for those without employment to stay informed about the latest developments in the industry. EAGE has established a dedicated programme with this in mind.

The programme consists of various elements available for mid- and long-term EAGE members to lower the cost for events such as EAGE Short Courses (including EAGE Education Days) and membership fee waivers. For the full details and how to apply, please have a look at the dedicated page: http://eage.org/en/membership/eage-economichardship-programme.

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

INDUSTRY NEWS

Senegal gas find excites Kosmos

osmos Energy says it has made a major gas discovery offshore Senegal making a 100% success rate for six successive wells. Yakaar-1 is the first well in a series of four independent tests of the basin floor fan fairways, outboard of the proven slope channel trend opened with the Tortue-1 discovery. Located in the Cayar offshore Profond block approximately in nearly 2550 m of water, the well was drilled by the Atwood Achiever to a total depth of approximately 4700 m and intersected a gross hydrocarbon column of 120 m in three pools in the primary Lower Cenomanian objective and encountered 45 m) of net pay. Well results are said to confirm the presence of thick, stacked,

The result also confirms our view of the potential scale of the petroleum system offshore Mauritania and Senegal.’ After completion of operations on the Yakaar-1 well, the Atwood Achiever was sched-

reservoir sands over a very large area with very good porosity and permeability. Andrew G. Inglis, chairman and chief executive officer, said: ‘Together with the Teranga–1 discovery made last year, we believe this resource will support a second cost-competitive LNG hub.

uled to mobilize to the Tortue-1 well to conduct a drill stem test (DST) on the Tortue discovery, enabling the commencement of front end engineering design (FEED) in the second half of 2017, a final investment decision (FID) in 2018 and first gas in 2021.

Atwood Achiever drillship.

Sound and Schlumberger agree on Eastern Moroccan surveys

Tullow encouraged by Kenyan well result

ullow Oil says its Emekuya-1 well in Block 13T, Northern Kenya has encountered around 75 m of net oil pay in two zones. Emekuya-1, 2.5 km north of Etom-2, was intended to drill a fault block on the flank of the Greater Etom structure. The well was drilled by the PR Marriott Rig-46 to a total measured depth of 1356 m and penetrated reservoir quality Miocene sandstones which correlate to those seen in the successful Etom-2 well. Downhole pressure measurements and fluid samples suggest that the main oil reservoir is on the same static pressure gradient as the Etom-2 well which demonstrates that a major part of the Greater Etom structure is oil-filled. The reservoir sands encountered also appear to be extensive which further de-risks the northern play area and bodes well for future exploration in the region. The rig was due to be moved to drill an updip appraisal well on the Greater Etom structure. Tullow operates Blocks 13T and 10BB with 50% equity and is partnered by Africa Oil Corporation and Maersk Oil both with 25%. Angus McCoss, exploration director, said: ‘The Emekuya-1 exploratory appraisal well has made an important discovery in the northern part of the South Lokichar Basin. This well has proven oil charge across a significant part of the Greater Etom structure and we are very encouraged by the quality and particularly the regional extent of the reservoir.’

Sound prospects in Eastern Morocco.

ound Energy is signing a field management agreement with Schlumberger for the Meridja and the Tendrara relinquished areas, recently acquired from Oil & Gas Investment Fund, in exchange for a full carry on the company’s Eastern Moroccan geophysical survey programme, estimated at $27.2 million. The programme includes the acquisitiovn and processing of approx 2600 km of new 2D seismic and 24,000 km2 of gravity gradiometry. In return for services in kind, Schlumberger will be granted a 27.5% working interest in both the relinquished areas Tullow well in progress.

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

INDUSTRY NEWS

Total’s West African deep water moves

otal is upping its deep water exploration game in Senegal and Mauritania offshore West Africa. Total and the Republic of Senegal have signed two agreements enabling Total to contribute to the exploration activities in Senegal’s deep and ultra-deep offshore. One agreement in Senegal involves an E&P sharing contract for the Rufisque offshore Profond block, an area of 10,357 km2. Total will be the operator with a 90% interest alongside Société Nationale des Pétroles du Sénégal (Petrosen), holding the remaining 10%. The company also signed a cooperation agreement with Petrosen and Senegal’s Ministry of En-

ploration potential of Senegal’s ultra-deep offshore and become operator of an exploration block. Total is a major economic player in Senegal with a network of 174 service stations located throughout the country, Total. In Mauritania Total has signed an exploration and production contract on Block C7, an area of 7300 km2. The company will be the operator with a 90% interest alongside the Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier (SMHPM) holding the remaining 10%. The addition of the C7 block adds to Total’s existing C9 deep water licence creating a contiguous exploration area of around 17,000 km2 in a high-potential zone in offshore Mauritania,

ergy and Renewable Energy Development under which Total will perform studies to assess the ex-

according to Guy Maurice, senior vice president, Africa at Total Exploration & Production.

Total’s place on the Senegal offshore map.

South Africa close to a shale gas exploration decision

euters reports that recommendations for South Africa’s first shale gas exploration licences in the semi-arid Karoo basin will be finalized soon. This follows environmental objections which had delayed the process. Environmentalists have strongly criticised exploration prospects in the sparsely populated, semi-arid Karoo, renowned for its rugged scenery and home to species such as the

mountain zebra and riverine rabbit, one of the rarest mammals in the world. Royal Dutch Shell, Falcon Oil and Gas and Bundu Gas & Oil are among five applications being reviewed by the regulator, according to Lindiwe Mekwe, acting chief executive, Petroleum Agency SA (PASA). PASA will make recommendations to the ministry of mineral resources, which will take a final decision on the licences as South Africa

looks to augment dwindling offshore gas reserves and help diversify its energy mix away from coal-fired plants supplying most of it electricity needs. Mekwe said: ‘We anticipate that the minister will be in a position to make a determination during the second or third quarter. If the decision is made this year the exploration rights will be valid for a period of three years, exploration activities should commence within three years.’

Offshore Cape Three Points comes on stream early

ni has launched production from the integrated oil and gas development project in the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) block, off Ghana’s western coast, in just two and a half years, and three months ahead of schedule. The OCTP development is made up of the Sankofa Main, Sankofa East and Gye-Nyame fields, about 60 km off Ghana’s Western Region coast. The fields have about 770 million bar-

rel of oil equivalent (mboe) in place, of which 500 million barrels of oil and 270 mboe of nonassociated gas (about 40 billion m3). The project includes the development of gas fields whose production will be utilized entirely by Ghana’s domestic market. Production will be carried out via the John Agyekum Kufuor floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO), which will produce up to 85,000 boepd through 18 underwater

wells. A 63 km submarine pipeline will transport gas to Sanzule’s onshore receiving facilities (ORF), where it will be processed and transmitted to Ghana’s national grid, supplying approximately 180 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd). Eni is operator of the OCTP block with a 44.44% stake, Vitol holds 35.56% and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) 20%.

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

INDUSTRY NEWS

Equatorial Guinea signs up for OPEC membership

Agbara extension confirmed

igmund Oilfields has reported the results of a study of block OPL-2012, offshore Nigeria. The competent persons report confirms the presence of a significant contingent oil, gas, and condensate resource within an extension of the Agbara field across the boundary of OPL-2012. The estimated resource has the potential to support a stand-alone or shared facility development and provides an opportunity for

early cash flow. Sigmund’s chairman Chief Chris Ubah said in January: ‘We are delighted with these results. The report confirms our long-held belief that a substantial prize exists within the boundaries of OPL-2012. The opportunity to test an extension of a material producing field such as Agbara is quite unique in Nigeria. We are now embarking on a campaign to secure the investment to drill an appraisal well.’

Licence squabble settled Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima.

quatorial Guinea is to join OPEC. The announcement was made at a meeting of the global oil producers in Vienna in May. The country becomes Sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth OPEC member. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, said: ‘Equatorial Guinea’s joining of OPEC is a triumph. This is a proud moment for us. There has never been a more important time to stand together and it is our honour to stand with OPEC as a positive force in global energy. We will use this platform to advance the interests of all African oil and gas explorers and producers and all OPEC members.’ Equatorial Guinea applied for OPEC membership in January, with the Minister announcing his intention to join the bloc by the end of the year. Oil producers worldwide, including 11 nonOPEC members, joined together in December 2016 to agree on 1.8 million barrels per day of production cuts that would successfully stabilize the oil price in 2017. Lima was a leading voice in the calls for unity among exporting nations. Equatorial Guinea is Sub-Saharan Africa’s third biggest oil producer and has one of the region’s most dynamic energy sectors. In 2017 work will begin on two landmark projects: Fortuna FLNG, Africa’s first floating liquefied natural gas plant; and the Bioko Oil Terminal, the largest crude oil and petroleum products storage facility in West and Central Africa. The Minister was due to present information on these projects, as well as Equatorial Guinea’s accession to OPEC and the conclusion of the EG Ronda 2016 bidding round, to investors at the Africa Oil & Power 2017 conference in Cape Town on 5-7 June.

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017

tto Energy companies and Swala Oil and Gas (Tanzania) have settled issues over the Pangani and Kilosa-Kilombero licences, onshore Tanzania on commercial grounds and does not represent an admission of liability by either party.

Drilling begins for FAR off Senegal

ustralian company FAR and its Senegal Joint Venture (Cairn Energy, ConocoPhillips and Petrosen) partners have begun drilling the FAN South-1 exploration well into the South Fan prospect. The well is the first pure exploration well to be drilled offshore Senegal since the discovery wells of FAN-1 and SNE-1 in 2014. It is also the first well tapping to be drilling into the deepwater basin offshore Senegal since the initial FAN-1

The latest well is being drilled by the Stena DrillMAX into the South Fan prospect that FAR assesses to contain 134 mmbbls of recoverable oil on a best estimate basis, with an 18% chance of success. It will also assess the potential for improved reservoir presence and quality in the basin that will aid in the evaluation of the FAN-1 well results. The South Fan prospect consists of several stacked reservoir targets. The well will be

discovery well in 2014.

drilled to an estimated total depth of 5317 m in a water depth of 2139 m. The well plan includes a wireline logging programme prior to the well being plugged and abandoned. FAR managing director, Cath Norman said: ‘The Fan South-1 target represents an opportunity for FAR to add to the growing inventory of oil discoveries offshore Senegal and the wider Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea Bissau Basin, clearly one of the world’s exploration hot spots. Fan South-1 gives us the opportunity to gain valuable information on reservoir presence and quality and to better understand the substantial potential of the large, deep-water basin area. After successfully completing the appraisal of the SNE Field, it is exciting for the JV to be back drilling a pure exploration target.’

Stena Drillmax II is drilling in the South Fan prospect.

INDUSTRY NEWS / CALENDAR

SeaBird’s 2D West Africa survey

Angola drops licensing round

ngola’s state oil company Sonangol has cancelled an auction of oil exploration licences for eight blocks, blaming the drop in oil prices since the bidding opened. The round consisted of five blocks in the Kwanza basin and three on the Lower Congo. According to a Sonangol statement, ‘The remarkable drop in the price of the oil barrel, and the economic and financial situation of the country and the world, have negatively influenced the viability of the oil concessions.’ Sonangol said the new economic reality meant the terms initially proposed would Osprey Explorer 2D vessel.

eaBird Exploration picked up two 2D seismic survey projects offshore West Africa. The first project was due to commence in the second quarter and was expected to have a duration of approximately one month. SeaBird will be using the Osprey Explorer 2D seismic vessel for the project.

not allow ‘profitable operations’ in the near future, and that the round needed to be cancelled to ensure a transparent bidding process. The company initially announced auctions in the blocks in 2015. At that time, Chevron, commodities trader Glencore and Portugal’s Galp were said to have prequalified to bid.

Africa Oil finalizes Kenyan block farm-out terms with Maersk

frica Oil has agreed final terms with Maersk Oil & Gas on a farmout of a percentage of its Kenyan blocks 10BB, 13T and 10BA (all operated by Tullow Oil) for which it received $427 million. Africa Oil is also

quarter during 2018. Upon final investment decision (FID) of the South Lokichar development project, Maersk may be obligated to carry Africa Oil for an additional amount of up to $405 million dependent upon meeting certain

Africa Oil and Maersk will now have 25% interests in blocks 10BB, 13T, and 10BA. Another farmout of 50% of Africa Oil’s interest in the Rift Basin and South Omo Blocks to Maersk remains subject to Ethiopian govern-

due to receive equal quarterly payments of US $18.75 million at the end of each calendar

thresholds of resource growth and timing of first oil.

ment approval, which is expected in the near term.

EAGE Africa Event Calendar September 2017 10-13 September 15th SAGA Conference & Exhibition

November 2017

June

Cape Town, South Africa |

8-10 November EAGE • Third EAGE Eastern Africa Petroleum Geoscience Forum

11-14 June EAGE • 80th EAGE Conference & Exhibition – Copenhagen 2018

http://sagaconference.co.za/

Maputo, Mozambique | www.eage.org

Copenhagen, Denmark | www.eage.org

October 2017 2-4 October EAGE/ASGA • First EAGE/ASGA Workshop on Petroleum Exploration

19-23 November 35th NAPE International Conference & Exhibition Lagos, Nigeria | http://www.nape.org.ng

Luanda, Angola | www.eage.org

EAGE NEWSLETTER AFRICA ISSUE-1 2017