Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has discovered hydrocarbon deposits in the Kolmani River II Well on the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin, in the North Eastern part of the country.

The corporation disclosed this in a statement signed by its acting spokesperson, Mr Samson Makoji, in Abuja on Friday.

It would be recalled that drilling of the Kolmani River II Well was flagged-off by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 2nd.

Makoji said NNPC acquired 435.54km2 of 3D Seismic Data over Kolmani Prospect in Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin.

He said this was to evaluate Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) Kolmani River 1 Well Discovery of 33 BCF and explore deeper levels.

“The well was drilled with “IKENGA RIG 101” to a total depth of 13,701 feet encountering oil and gas in several levels.

“A Drill Stem Test (DST) is currently on-going to confirm the commercial viability and flow of the Kolmani River reservoirs,” he said.

Makoji explained that on Oct.10th at 18:02hours, one of the reservoirs was perforated and hydrocarbon started flowing to the well head at 21:20hours in which the gas component was flared to prevent air charge around the Rig.

“Preliminary reports indicated that the discovery consists of gas, condensate and light sweet oil of API gravity ranging from 38 to 41 found in stacked siliciclastic cretaceous reservoirs of Yolde, Bima Sandstone and Pre-Bima formations.

“Computation of hydrocarbon volume is ongoing and will be announced in due course,” he added.

The spokesperson said NNPC had also acquired additional 1183km2 of 3D seismic data over highly prospective areas of Gongola Basin with a view to evaluating the full hydrocarbon potential of the Basin.

He said that NNPC had deployed world class cutting-edge technologies including Surface Geochemistry, Ground Gravity/Magnetic, Stress Field Detection, Full Tensor Gradiometry aerial surveys to de-risk exploration in the frontier basins.

“NNPC plans to drill additional wells for full evaluation of the hydrocarbon volume in the Gongola Basin,” Makoji said

During the spud-in ceremony of Kolmani River II, Buhari had stated the commitment of his administration to the exploration for Oil and Gas in the frontier basins in the entire length and breadth of the country.

The basins include: Benue Trough, Chad Basin, Sokoto and Bida Basins.

He also said that attention would be given to the Dahomey and Anambra Basins which had already witnessed oil and gas discoveries.

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.

Successive governments in the country have searched for oil in many parts of northern Nigeria.

NAN