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14 May, 2007
The second exploration well drilled in the Gambella basin, South West Ethiopia, turned out dry (no oil).
The Malaysian oil and gas giant, Petronas, drilled the second exploration well in the Gambella basin in Jakaranda locality. The well (Jakaranda 1) is 3000 m. deep. Zhoungyuan Petroleum Exploration Bearu (ZPEB) contracted by Petronas began to drill the second well last February.
Experts of ZPEB and Petronas who conducted geological test last week did not discover oil inflows in the well. Last year, Petronas drilled the first exploration well in the Gambella basin in Gikaw locality, 300 km from the Sudanese border. The first exploration well was also dry. Petronas spent 32 million dollars to drill the two wells (Gikaw 1 and Jakaranda 1).
Petronas drilled four wildcat wells in Melut basin in Southern Sudan and they all were dry. Petronas and the Ethiopian Ministry of Mines and Energy signed a petroleum exploration and development agreement in June 2003 that enables the company to prospect for oil in the Gambella basin. The basin covers 16,000 sq km of land. Petronas is also prospecting for oil in the Ogaden basin, south-east Ethiopia. ZPEB undertakes the exploration activity in the Ogaden basin in Genale locality. Petronas is one of the top ten leading oil companies in the global oil industry. It operates in 14 African and 21 Asian countries. Currently, the company is conducting seismic survey in Ogaden.
By Kaleyesus Bekele - Ethiopian Reporter