Project Profile
Location: onshore southern Tanzania, Lake Nyasa
Area: 10,343 sq km
Prospective Resources: 3.6 billion BOE net to Jacka (High Estimate), 263 million barrels (conventional oil) 20 tcf (unconventional gas + liquids)
The Ruhuhu basin lies fully onshore in southern Tanzania and abuts Lake Nyasa on the north-east shores and is one of a chain of Karoo basins across southern Africa.
The basin contains both conventional and unconventional plays with potential for multiple charge systems.
The basal Ruhuhu section which contains post-glacial, early Permian euxinic lacustrine shales which the company said were rich in total organic content and modelled to have reached oil mid-maturity within the basin.
As well as the conventional exploration potential associated with the younger, East African rift section, the older Ruhuhu Basin is known to contain significant thicknesses of Permian coals as well as organic-rich black shales. These coals and shales may represent an attractive unconventional target with the potential for large scale gas and associated liquids.
In March 2013, Jacka was awarded a production sharing agreement for the Ruhuhu Block with 100% interest. The first exploration period lasts for four years and includes commitments to airborne gravity and magnetics surveys, a minimum of 400 km of seismic, and one exploration well.
Following geotechnical studies conducted later in 2013, Jacka announced a pre-drill prospective resources estimate (high) of 3.6 billion boe. The best estimate, however, was 1.37 billion boe. It recognised conventional gas potential in the Karoo section of the Ruhuhu licence which could not be quantified yet. Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. retained the rights to 20% equity in any future development. The firm intended to farm-out Ruhuhu prior to significant expenditure channeled into geophysical programmes.
As of January 2017, Jacka was considering the disposal of its Ruhuhu licence as part of an ongoing restructuring of the company. Jacka blamed a continuing lack of industry interest for early stage exploration projects, and said it had consequently curtailed operations with a view to minimise financial exposure by all available means.
Operators:
Jacka: Operator with 100% interest