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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says its crew working at Kolmani River-II in Gongola Basin have encountered hydrocarbon outflow to the wellhead while performing well test operations.
It says the discovery was made at about 21:20 hours on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
A tweet by the NNPC reads: “At about 21:20 hours of 10th October 2019, @NNPCgroup drilling crew working at Kolmani River-II in Gongola Basin have encountered hydrocarbon outflow to the wellhead while performing well test operations.
“The gas component is currently being flared to avoid pressure build up around the drilling rig. Further assessment of the Hydrocarbon type and volume are being carried out.”
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen and found in crude oil and natural gas.
Petroleum is a collective term for hydrocarbons, whether solid, liquid or gaseous.
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In a statement this evening by its acting group general manager, group public affairs division, Samson Makoji, the corporation said the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantity in the Gongola Basin will “attract foreign investment, generate employment for people to earn income and increase government revenues”.
“It would be recalled that drilling of the Kolmani River II Well was flagged-off in a colourful ceremony by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2nd of February, 2019.
“NNPC acquired 435.54km2 of 3D Seismic Data over Kolmani Prospect in the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin. This was to evaluate Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) Kolmani River 1 Well Discovery of 33 BCF and explore deeper levels,” the statement further states.
Makoji explained that one of the rigs was drilled to a total depth of 13,701feet, which led to the discovery of oil and gas in several levels.
He said NNPC has deployed world-class cutting-edge technologies to de-risk exploration in the frontier basins, adding that the corporation plans to drill additional wells for full evaluation of the hydrocarbon volume in the Gongola Basin.
He also said attention would be given to the Dahomey and Anambra Basins which have already witnessed oil and gas discoveries.
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