(Ecofin Agency) - Solo Oil on Friday announced that a rig contract has been signed for the drilling of the Ntorya-2 appraisal well in the Ruvuma basin.The Carol 2 drilling rig, which is presently located on the Ntorya-1 well pad, will soon be mobilized to the Ntorya 2 pad, which is 1500m away.

According to the company, the contract is for one well, with an option for a second well. “We are delighted that the appraisal process at Ntorya is now gaining momentum. We understand that the Carol#2 rig, which is already located nearby at the Ntorya-1 site, will be mobilised and rigged up shortly to drill this high impact well. We look forward to further news as we move towards spud date,” Neil Ritson, Solo Oil’s Chairman, told Energy Voice.

Solo Oil has a 25% working interest in the Ruvuma PSA alongside Aminex, which is the operator with 75% working interest. The Ntorya-2 is the main appraisal well of the Ntorya-1 find which flowed 20 Mmsf/d together with 139 barrels of associated condensate.

Aminex has said that it remains on track to drill the Ntorya-2 well in Q4 of 2016.

Anita Fatunji