New method to aid oil search in murchison

By Chris Ocowun and Benedict Okethwengu

As the hunt for more oil and gas fields continues within Murchison Falls National Game Park, Total E&P Uganda has adopted a new technology known as 3D Cableless Seismic Survey, which is friendly to the ecosystem and wildlife.

The technology requires less manpower, less supporting vehicles and offers fast recording.

“Total E&P has started engaging experts to ensure the best possible standards of implementation, in addition to complying with national regulatory requirements and internationally recognised best practices in all its operations,” Total E&P Uganda corporate affairs manager, Ahlem Friga-Noy, said.

The experts are conducting a cableless 3D seismic survey in the oil fields within the Albertine Basin, located within Murchison Falls National Park to provide accurate images of the underground to better evaluate the size and characteristics of the discovered oil field. The survey runs until April 2014, covering 3,659square kilometer within the park.

Adam Turnbull, the seismic superintendent with Total E&P Uganda, says 3D Seismic acquisition is a common technology, but Uganda is the first country in Africa to use it. Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are some of the countries that have adopted it.

He said the method is based on the same principles as the clinical ultra sound scanners.

“Sound waves are used to study the shapes and their characteristics below the surface of the earth,” he said.

He said unlike the 2D seismic used at the exploration stage, the 3D surveys are mostly used for appraisals and development phases.

“Optimum coverage and quality is attained without the necessity of deploying kilometers of conventional telemetry cables, hence with a much limited impact on wildlife and vegetation compared to other techniques,” Friga-Noy noted.

“Total E&P Uganda will be conducting a series of biological surveys in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. It also has employed a dedicated biodiversity team to lead in this work through monitoring animal and plant populations, defining avoidance maps ahead of activities and compliance procedures at the time of the operations,” she added.

Friga-Noy denied reports that oil exploration activities within the park were driving elephants and other wildlife into people’s gardens in Nwoya district.

“We don’t drive away wildlife. Instead we are the ones who are pushed out of oil fields when there is wildlife. The equipment we use has the lowest impact possible on wildlife. We have a lot of engagements with the tourism authorities,” she said.

Turnbull says there are 100 game rangers specifically working with them in the oil field to make sure that all their activities don’t impact on the wildlife.

Meanwhile, the testing of oil wells by the different oil companies and experts from Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development is going on in 22 oil wells out of the 93 so far discovered in the Albertine Graben.

Twelve of the wells have no oil or gas deposits. Testing is ongoing in three wells at Gunya-1, Ngiri-5 and Ngiri-5A in Bugungu, Buliisa district under Total Oil Exploration.

Total took journalists on a guided tour of the oil field and waste consolidation areas within Murchison Falls National Park last week.
According to Gloria Sebikari, the communications officer in the Petroleum Exploration and Production Department in the energy ministry, 36,000 barrels of crude oil have been retrieved from the different oil wells during testing and stored at different locations.

“These 36,000 barrels of crude oil are not commercially viable. We have stored the crude oil in different locations at Tangi, Ngiri-2 and Kasamene in Buliisa. The crude oil can only be sold to the manufacturing industries for power production,” she explained.

The 36,000 barrels of the crude oil have been generated from the oil wells of both Total and Tullow Oil. A barrel of crude oil goes for between $80-100.

Total Oil Exploration, through its partner Schlumberger, is currently testing oil at Gunya-1 well in Bugungu, Buliisa district.
Sebikari says Lyec discovery area has one discovery, while Paraa discovery area has six oil discoveries at; Ngiri, Jobi, Rii, Jobi-East, Mpyo and Gunya, which are under appraisal by Total E&P to establish the quantity of oil in the wells.

Buliisa discovery area with six oil discoveries; Ngege, Kasamene, Kigogole, Wairindi, Ngara and Nsonga, as well as Kaiso-Tonya with four discovery areas of Mputa, Nzizi, Ngassa and Waraga are under appraisal by Tullow.

About sixty of the oil wells have not yet been tested.