72 wells successfully drilled ahead of 1st oil production

KAMPALA, Uganda | Xinhua | Uganda said 72 oil wells in its two production areas in the country’s western and northern regions have been successfully drilled ahead of commercial production slated for next year.

Ruth Nankabirwa, minister of energy and mineral development, told journalists on Wednesday during a press conference in the Uganda capital of Kampala that the 72 wells had been drilled at Tilenga and Kingfisher production areas.

In 2022, a Final Investment Decision was announced by joint venture partners TotalEnergies E&P Uganda, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) Uganda Limited, and Uganda National Oil Company to undertake various upstream projects on behalf of the government of Uganda.

The projects include production areas, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to transport crude oil to the East African coast in Tanzania, and the Uganda Refinery Project.

At the Tilenga project, Nankabirwa said, “Sixty-three out of the planned 426 wells have been successfully completed, with positive hydrocarbon shows in the targeted reservoirs.”

“Drilling activities have so far focused on six of the 31 well pads that will host 426 producer and injector wells for the Tilenga project. All three rigs designated for drilling are operational, and a total of 63 wells have been drilled as of Aug. 16, 2024,” the minister added.

In addition, she said, seven other well pads are over 85 percent complete and ready to receive a rig.

According to the minister, civil works at the Tilenga Industrial Area, which is supposed to host the central processing facility, a drilling support base, a construction camp, and other facilities, are 99.7 percent complete.

At the Kingfisher Oil field operated by CNOOC Uganda Limited, nine of the 11 wells required for First Oil had been successfully drilled.

“The development plan (at Kingfisher) includes a central processing facility with a capacity of 40,000 barrels per day and the drilling of 31 wells across four well pads,” the minister said.

In January 2023, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni launched the drilling of oil for commercial production at the Kingfisher Oil Field.

The minister also said China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering and the EACOP construction contractor “had begun civil works at the pump stations and main camp and pipe yard sites in both Uganda and Tanzania.” The EACOP runs 1,443 km from Hoima District in western Uganda to the Tanga Port in Tanzania.

Uganda in 2006 discovered 6.5 billion barrels of oil, of which 1.4 billion barrels are commercially viable, according to the ministry. ■