Cairn Energy surges on Senegalese oil discovery
FTSE 250-listed oil and gas group Cairn Energy has discovered oil at its FAN-1 exploration well offshore Senegal, causing shares to surge on Tuesday.
ConocoPhillips
$128.33
11:10 17/04/24
The discovery "materially upgrades the prospectivity" of the Sangomar Deep Block, the company said.
Cairn, which has a 40% working interest in the block, said that discovery of oil at FAN-1 is an "important event" for its joint venture with Conocophillips (35%), FAR (15%) and Petrosen (10%), which owns three blocks offshore Senegal.
The Sangomar well, located 100km offshore, found a 29-metre net oil bearing reservoir in cretaceous sandstones.
No water contact was found in a gross oil bearing interval of over 500 metres.
Initial estimates for the FAN-1 well range from 250m barrels at a 90% probability of success (P90), 950m barrels at P50 and 2,500m barrels at P10. These are broadly in line with pre-drill estimates.
"We have encountered a very substantial oil-bearing interval which may have significant potential as a standalone discovery," said Cairn's chief executive Simon Thomson.
"Furthermore, this result materially upgrades the prospectivity of the block with a proven petroleum system and a number of deep fan and shelf prospects established."
The stock was up 10.4% at 198.55p in early deals on Tuesday.