Scirocco Energy (LON:SCIR) said the tender for a 3D seismic study over the Ruvuma PSA in Tanzania has been completed and the contract will be awarded once the government gives approval.
APT, the operator, expects the seismic data acquisition to commence later this quarter, Scirocco added.
Following that, the Chikumbi-1 exploration and appraisal well is now expected to spud early in the third quarter of 2022, said a statement.
Assuming a successful outcome from the drilling of the Chikumbi-1 well, first gas from the project is anticipated to be delivered by the end of 2024.
APT has also re-interpreted the existing 2D seismic dataset for the Ntorya gas reservoir and now estimates a mean risked gas in place (GIIP) of 3,024 Bcf in multiple lobes and a mean risked recoverable gas resource of 1,990 Bcf.
Reserves will be appraised by the planned seismic and drilling programme.
Tom Reynolds, Scirocco’s chief executive, said: “APT has made significant progress since assuming the role of operator and we are now looking forward to a busy period of operational activity as the Joint Venture executes the 3D seismic and well planning programme.
“Additionally, the work undertaken by the APT technical team to re-map the discovery and identify prospective additional resources demonstrates the potential size and scale of the Ntorya discovery."
The partners in the Ruvuma PSA are APT (50%, Operator), Aminex PLC (25%) and Scirocco (25%).