The Kudu Gas Project, which has suffered a string of setbacks in the past following the withdrawal of Shell International and Chevron Texaco, stumbled on another hurdle recently when no additional gas could during a recent drilling programme.
Tullow Oil plc said this week that the firm is disappointed with the results from wells it has been exploring in search of gas at Kudu.

Aidan Heavey, chief executive of Tullow, said results from the Kudu-8 well were a major disappointment for Tullow.
“Despite encountering improved reservoir developments, it (Kudu-8) has not proved possible to demonstrate commercial flow rates at this location and significant technical and geological work will now be undertaken to determine the best future programme for the area,” said Heavey.
He added, “Tullow does not expect this result to impact on the progress of the Kudu gas-to-power project and remains committed to the joint venture and will continue the process of developing this important Namibian natural resource.”
Tullow said the Kudu-8 appraisal well has been drilled to a total depth of 4,355m and, following the results of logging operations, will now not be flow tested. The well was designed to test the potential for additional reserves within the Greater Kudu field area, thereby broadening the range of development and commercialisation opportunities available.
The well encountered the targeted gas bearing reservoir sands at 4,299m, this which was consistent with results from the nearby Kudu-5 well drilled in 1998.
“These sands were thicker and of a better quality than those in Kudu-5; however, the reservoir permeability was lower at this location. The results of the logging programme showed that any production from this well would not exceed the gas flow rate recorded at Kudu-5. The joint venture has therefore decided not to flow test the well, which has now been plugged and abandoned. The Pride South Seas rig contract will now be terminated following this and the results fully integrated into Tullow’s geological model for the area in advance of any decisions on further drilling,” said Tullow in a statement.
Tullow is an oil and gas exploration and production group quoted on London and Irish bourses. It has interests in over 120 exploration and production licences across 23 countries and focuses on four core areas: Europe, Africa, South Asia and South America.
Tullow’s European interests are primarily focused on gas in the UK’s Southern North Sea where it has significant interests in the Caister-Murdoch System and the Thames-Hewitt area.
In Africa, Tullow has exploration and producing operations in Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea and the Kudu gas fields.