New Oil Discovered in

Nigerian Offshore FieldBy Kashim Bukar Shettima

Introduction

A drilling rig operating in the waters off

of Nigeria has struck oil in a new layer

of rock. The rig, working through strata

dating back to the Miocene

epoch, found hydrocarbons at three

depths along a 65-foot track while

drilling. It was operated by Allied

Energy PLC, with additional support

provided by an energy company in

Houston, Texas.

About Miocene

The Oyo oil field, where the Miocene

find occurred, opened in late 2009 and

has been producing oil ever since.

The oil field lies about 75 miles from

the coast of southern Nigeria under

water 200 to 500 meters deep. Most

wells in the field drill in rock from the

Pliocene epoch.

Conclusion

The companies operating the well

where the Miocene oil was found said

the rig has satisfied its current

objectives and suspended its

operation for a short time. The team

plans to begin horizontal drilling in

early 2014 and hopes to bring the well

into production by the middle of the

year.