The Etom-2 well in Block 13T in northern Kenya has encountered 102 m of net oil pay in two columns, Tullow Oil said in a news release.

The objective of the well was to explore the Etom structure in an untested fault block identified by recent 3D seismic. Oil samples, sidewall cores and wire line logging all indicate the presence of high API oil in the best quality reservoir encountered in the South Lokichar Basin to date, Tullow said. Additional prospectivity identified on the 3-D seismic in the north of the basin, including the Erut and Elim prospects, will now be considered as part of the future exploration drilling program.

The PR Marriott Rig-46 drilled the Etom-2 well to a final depth of 1,655 m and will now move to Block 12A where it will spud the Cheptuket-1 well around year end, the first well to be drilled in the Kerio Valley Basin, according to the release.

In Block 10BB, Tullow said it has completed the Ngamia extended well test with about 38,000 barrels of oil produced. The five completed zones of Ngamia-8 were tested at a cumulative rate of 2,400 bbl/d and all except the lowest zone produced naturally. Communication between the producer well and an observation well at a distance of about 500 m was also demonstrated.

Tullow operates Blocks 13T and 10BB with 50% equity. Partner Africa Oil Corp. has 50% interest.