Uganda's oil reserves rival Saudi Arabia’s, says US expert

[Alpha]

If this is true this could be a boon for the region. With the right infrustructure in place, Mombasa and Dar ports could benefit considerably.

Uganda's oil reserves rival Saudi Arabia’s, says US expert
Written by EDRIS KISAMBIRA Tuesday, 02 June 2009 KAMPALA, UGANDA - Uganda's oil reserves could be as much as that of the Gulf countries, a senior official at the US Department of Energy has said.
Based on the test flow results encountered at the wells so far drilled and other oil numbers, Ms. Sally Kornfeld, a senior analyst in the office of fossil energy went ahead to talk about Uganda's oil reservoirs in the same sentence as Saudi Arabia. "You are blessed with amazing reservoirs. Your reservoirs are incredible. I am amazed by what I have seen, you might rival Saudi Arabia," Kornfeld told a visiting delegation from Uganda in Washington DC.
The group of Ugandans was in Washington on an international visitor programme and looked at the efficient use of natural energy resources.
The group comprised Ministry of Energy officials, a Member of Parliament, members from the civil society and one journalist.
At present, Uganda has four oil prospectors on the ground including Heritage Oil, Tullow Oil, Tower Oil and Dominion Oil.
Of the four prospectors, Tullow and Heritage have registered success at wells in two blocks in the Albertine basin, which lies in the upper-most part of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley.
According to data so far aggregated since the first discovery was made by Australian prospector Hardman Resources (now taken over by Tullow) in June 2006, Uganda has established reserves at 3.5 million barrels of oil per day.
Experts in oil exploration say this could be just a tip of the iceberg.
The sites are still building pressure and production might well exceed the current figures if what has happened elsewhere like Angola is anything to go by.
Flow tests at various wells have indicated flow rates ranging from as low as 1,500 to highs of 14,000 barrels per day. According to earlier releases, the prospectors are now certain that the commercial threshold for development has been exceeded.
Mr. Aidan Heavy, Tullow Oil's chief executive officer revealed early in the year that they assigned a dedicated team of experts to deliver a commercial development plan for the entire basin.
In April last year, Tullow embarked on what it termed as a major drilling campaign in the Butiaba area around Lake Albert targeting an overall reserve potential in excess of a billion barrels.
The Butiaba campaign was preceded by successes in two drilling campaigns in the Kaiso-Tonya area and the Kingfisher field and all these have been 100% successes so far.
The Butiaba campaign has thrown up successes but the two biggest so far have been the Buffalo-Giraffe wells - described as "one of the largest recent onshore oil discoveries in Africa".
"Combined with our other finds in the region, we have now clearly exceeded the thresholds for basin development," the chief executive of Tullow commented then.
The Giraffe-1 exploration well, which is located in the Butiaba region, came up with over 38 metres of net oil pay within an 89-metre gross oil bearing interval.
The data from the Giraffe discovery indicate a net reservoir thickness of 38 metres, the largest encountered in the area to date.
The Buffalo-1 exploration well in Block 1 encountered 15 metres of net gas pay and over 28 metres of net oil pay.
The gas and oil columns encountered are 48 metres and 75 metres respectively with the potential to be even larger.
As Kornfeld marveled at Uganda's oil finds, she was quick to add that for the country to benefit from the oil and gas resources but also avoid the pitfalls of oil producing countries like Nigeria, it is extremely important to set up strong governance structures.
Kornfeld and the other United States officials said they are ready to help Uganda's nascent oil and gas sector with anything including the key environmental issues that are crucial to the efficient management of oil and gas.
"Anything you might want us to help you with we will and we have a lot of expertise in environmental issues relating to oil and gas," Kornfeld said.

http://www.busiweek.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1607&Itemid=2

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

If this is true this could be a boon for the region. With the right infrustructure in place, Mombasa and Dar ports could benefit considerably.



East African Business Week - Uganda's oil reserves rival Saudi Arabia’s, says US expert

Not so fast...M-7 is still the President of Uganda and there
is no telling.

 

[Smatta]

East Africa Community ehhhhhhhhhh... Lets speed up the process, the benefits are beginning to surpass the disadvantages by far.. with Tanzania's under exploited minerals and Ugandas oil, it seems like we East Africans are going to make a kill.

 

[Nemesis]

Hivi kunaweza kukawa na mafuta Uganda, wakati huohuo Tanzania na Kenya yasiqepo? mimi nadhani hatujatafuta vizuri. Kama mafuta yaliyopo Uganda ni mengi kiasi cha kuwa rival wa Saudi, that means Tz na Kenya yatakuwa zaidi kwasababu ya bahari. Just by a simple geologic knowledge. Endapo Uganda kungekuwa na coal then isiwepo Tanzania au Kenya ningeelewa, au hayo mafuta yangekuwa kiduchu pia ningeshawishika, bali sasa natumaini kuwa Tz na/au Kenya kunamafuta tena mengi tu.

 

[ByaseL]

Sidhani hizi za mafuta mengi Uganda ni za kweli. Ndio Uganda wamegundua mafuta magharibi ya nchi katibu na DRC lakini sio kwa wingi kulingana na Saudi Arbia. Kuna chunvi imeongezwa kidogo hapa! Mimi nafuatilia habari za Uganda kwa karibu sana maana nimeishi huko zaidi ya miaka kumi. Niwajuavyo waganda habari hii ingekwa kweli basi magazeti muhimu (mainstream) yangepiga wayowe sana. Waganda ni watu wenye kependa sifa sana lakini sijaona habari yoyote kama hiyo. Na wakigundua mafuta kiasi hicho sio lazima iwe neema kwa Uganda na hata East Africa kwa ujumla. Oil has generally been a curse in Africa.

 

[Smatta]

Sidhani hizi za mafuta mengi Uganda ni za kweli. Ndio Uganda wamegundua mafuta magharibi ya nchi katibu na DRC lakini sio kwa wingi kulingana na Saudi Arbia. Kuna chunvi imeongezwa kidogo hapa! Mimi nafuatilia habari za Uganda kwa karibu sana maana nimeishi huko zaidi ya miaka kumi. Niwajuavyo waganda habari hii ingekwa kweli basi magazeti muhimu (mainstream) yangepiga wayowe sana. Waganda ni watu wenye kependa sifa sana lakini sijaona habari yoyote kama hiyo. Na wakigundua mafuta kiasi hicho sio lazima iwe neema kwa Uganda na hata East Africa kwa ujumla. Oil has generally been a curse in Africa.

What can I say about your judgment of Ugandans or other nationalities so to speak? Minerals, not just oil are a curse to Nations.. Tanzania has minerals, its a blessing to them not a curse, SA the same and so many African countries, dont you think Ugandans can do the same and benefit us from the discovered oil, ama sifa zao zita wa prevent ku succeed. You simply come out as a jealous, pesimistic simpleton, who thinks he is much better because he comes from another country.

Why do you doubt the availability of vast oil reserves in Uganda, just because you didnt read it in your favourite Ugandan paper doesnt mean its false or doctored. Ama you think UG doesnt have any mineral potential according to your research.

 

[MwanaFalsafa1]

What can I say about your judgment of Ugandans or other nationalities so to speak? Minerals, not just oil are a curse to Nations.. Tanzania has minerals, its a blessing to them not a curse, SA the same and so many African countries, dont you think Ugandans can do the same and benefit us from the discovered oil, ama sifa zao zita wa prevent ku succeed. You simply come out as a jealous, pesimistic simpleton, who thinks he is much better because he comes from another country.

Why do you doubt the availability of vast oil reserves in Uganda, just because you didnt read it in your favourite Ugandan paper doesnt mean its false or doctored. Ama you think UG doesnt have any mineral potential according to your research.

You are arguing with a person who has probably not done any research to come to that conclusion, there is simply no point of debating with them.

 

[Offish]

You simply come out as a jealous, pesimistic simpleton, who thinks he is much better because he comes from another country.

I have been observing you - Smatta - for quite sometime now, it seems you can't criticise without insulting, can you?

 

[Koba]

...natafuta mke wa kiganda sasa!

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

...natafuta mume wa kiganda sasa!

Sishangai hata kidogo....

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Kama Ug. wana mafuta mengi is good for our EA region!!

 

[Koba]

Sishangai hata kidogo....

....kijana wewe tuliza tuu na hilo babymama lako Shaniqwa,nasikia wanajua sana kukaanga chicken na kuvuta tumbaku,watoto wa kiganda wewe mkuda huwawezi!

 

[Koba]

Kama Ug. wana mafuta mengi is good for our EA region!!

...angalia huyu,wewe si ndio kila siku uko mbele kukataa EA,eti watachukua our land,leo umeona mafuta basi na wewe unataka kufaidika,bora sasa waganda wakatae EA kukomesha wanafiki kama nyie labda next time mtajifunza!

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

...angalia huyu,wewe si ndio kila siku uko mbele kukataa EA,eti watachukua our land,leo umeona mafuta basi na wewe unataka kufaidika,bora sasa waganda wakatae EA kukomesha wanafiki kama nyie labda next time mtajifunza!

Koba,

Sasa ndugu kama kuna mafuta kuna ubaya gani?? Unajua Watz hatuna maneno kabisa na Uganda? Kwanza Ug wanatuzimia sana tu! Na bidhaa zao zinapitia pia Tz!

Sasa je tuwe maskini wote rafiki??

 

[Nyambala]

Wakuu lakini mbona Angola inazalisha 1.2 million barrels a day translating into kila waangola 10 wanakamata barrel 1 per day and still hawajairaval Saudia. Nna wasiwasi na ujiko uliotolewa na huyo jamaa!

 

[Andrew Nyerere]

I can well believe that,nimetoka Uganda jana,nilikuwa naishi Sheraton Kampala.

 

[Koba]

Naona waganda wametupiga bao sasa wahaya wote ni waganda!

Fresh Uganda oil find ‘Africa's biggest'



Robin Pagnamenta


Heritage Oil announced details of a large oil discovery in Uganda yesterday, which the company claimed could be the largest onshore discovery in sub-Saharan Africa.
Heritage said that its latest discovery – Giraffe1 – in the Lake Albert region, could total at least 400 million barrels of oil.
However, Paul Atherton, chief financial officer, told The Times that the wider field it was developing, dubbed Buffalo-Giraffe, had several "billions of barrels of oil in place", although it was unclear how much of this would be recoverable.
He said that the field, which is 9,000 square kilometers in size – or six times the size of Greater London – was unquestionably the largest onshore discovery made in sub-Saharan Africa in at least 20 years, possibly ever.


Mr Atherton said that of the 18 wells the company had drilled in the basin so far, all had produced oil. "Clearly the entire basin is full of oil," he said. "It's a world-class discovery, the most exciting new basin in Africa in decades."
Previously, the largest onshore fields discovered in sub-Saharan Africa were at Rabi-Kounga in Gabon, where 900 million barrels were found in 1985, and at Kome in Chad, where 485 million barrels were found in 1977.
Mr Atherton said that it would take at least another three years to start commercial production. The crude could be exported by road or rail, he said, but analysts believe that the most practical solution would be to build an 806-mile pipeline to take it to Kampala, Uganda's capital, and then the Kenyan coast. The pipeline would need to be heated and designed to traverse swampy and mountainous land. It would cost an estimated $1.5 billion (£1 billion) to complete.
Heritage and its partner Tullow Oil, which also has a 50 per cent equity stake in the project, would need to demonstrate that the field could produce at least 400 million barrels of oil to justify the cost of building such a pipeline. Richard Griffith, an Evolution Securities analyst, said the latest discovery "thrashed" this commerciality threshold.

 

[Koba]

kama kawaida ya Wakenya wameshawahi tender za kupitishia mafuta ya waganda Mombasa,kweli JK kalala..ndio maana Kibaki kaishia kusema https://jamii.app/JFUserGuide Migingo Museveni is my brother,sijui hata kama sasa watatusikiliza na Ea yetu ya ardhi iliyojaa mapori!

KAMPALA, Uganda (Dow Jones)--Uganda has modified its early oil production scheme after the discovery of more reserves on its side of the Albertine rift and is carrying out a feasibility study for the construction of a bigger oil refinery, the Ugandan president said Thursday.
Yoweri Museveni said Uganda won't build a mini refinery, as earlier planned with London-listed Tullow Oil PLC (TLW.LN) following the discovery of oil in 10 fields in the past 12 months.
Museveni said the government is carrying out a feasibility study which will determine the size of the refinery, taking into consideration the size of the reserves in the Albertine rift. Company officials say the Albertine region has the capacity to be become a multi-billion barrel oil basin.
In the meantime, Uganda will commence gas production at two wells in Hoima district, which will feed a 50-megawatt power plant in a bid to ease the county's electricity shortage.
Museveni further said the government had rejected calls from oil exploration companies to drop the idea of building a refinery, in favour of exporting unrefined crude.
"We shall not export unrefined crude, Uganda is not a place for playing games," he said. "When I went to Iran, the Iranian president told me Iran has nine refineries, and is in the process of building seven more."
Uganda and Iran have since signed an agreement for the establishment of a refinery in Uganda.
The president also said construction on the extension of the Mombasa-Eldoret oil pipeline has started. Subject to the approval of the Kenyan government, Uganda will design a pipe with a reverse flow, able to transport oil from the Albertine region to Mombasa for export once it reaches full production.
Other oil exploration companies operating in Uganda include, Heritage Oil Ltd

 

[Alpha]

"We shall not export unrefined crude, Uganda is not a place for playing games," he said. "When I went to Iran, the Iranian president told me Iran has nine refineries, and is in the process of building seven more."

For all his other faults at least he knows when he is being taken for a ride. The day JK says "We shall not export unprocessed Gold, Tanzanite, Diamonds... Tanzania is not a place for playing games" is the day Tanzania wakes up from it's slumber.

 

[Smatta]

I have been observing you - Smatta - for quite sometime now, it seems you can't criticise without insulting, can you?

For the first time you are right, I simply cant, I have tried (even gone for counseling) but it doesn't help. Thats me, thats how I communicate, I know no better, but there is no disrespect at all, its just a form of communication.