Zim sitting on 5,5bn barrels of oil .l as new investor seeks to join party .l wants EPO for Kariba, Mana Pools

INVICTUS Energy, the Australian company searching for oil and gas in the north of Zimbabwe, has declared that Zimbabwe “definitely” hosts significant hydrocarbons (fossil) deposits, breaking new ground in the country’s already rich extractive industry.

If the exploration reaches commercial discovery, it could bring far-reaching economic benefits for mineral-rich Zimbabwe, including in terms of fiscal revenue, job creation and energy security.

Following Invictus’ reported success in its search for oil and gas, interest from other investors seems to be building with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Energy Development indicating that a new investor, Shalom Mining Corporation Private Limited, has applied for a petroleum products prospecting order in Mashonaland West.

The mines ministry said the new investor had sought permission to scour the ground in Kariba and Mana Pools, Mashonaland West District to prospect for petroleum and natural gas over an area 130 000 hectares in extent.

“Any person wishing to lodge any objection to the granting of this application should do so in writing with the Secretary, Mining Affairs Board…” the Mining Affairs Board said.

On its part, Invictus said the evidence from mudgas analysis of Mukuyu-1 exploration well, which the company drilled in Mbire, Mashonaland Central Province from October last year proved the “definite” presence of hydrocarbons.

Mudgas analysis logging is a direct method of detecting oil and gas in formations drilled.

The analysis confirmed the presence of light oil, gas-condensate and helium as well as multiple oil and gas pay zones in sandstone reservoirs consistent with wireline log interpretation.

The analysis also confirmed the presence of helium gas in commercial concentrations comparable with global helium-producing fields, the company added.

Helium is a key component in the manufacture of semiconductors, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels and fibre optic wire.

According to Invictus, the successful basin opening Mukuyu-1 exploration well confirmed a working hydrocarbon system with 13 gas-condensate zones interpreted from wireline measurements.

Evaluation of the geological conditions at Mukuyu-1 indicated that Zimbabwe could be sitting on 20 trillion cubic feet+845 barrels of conventional gas condensate or 5,5 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Invictus managing director Scott MacMillan commented: “Results from the mudgas compositional analysis definitively prove the presence of hydrocarbons in multiple reservoir pay zones at Mukuyu-1 consistent with the wireline log interpretation, fluorescence, and elevated mudgas readings.

“Analysis shows the presence of light oil and rich natural gas-condensate, with condensate gas ratios estimated at between 30 to 135 barrels per million cubic feet.

“The analysed samples demonstrate a consistent, high-quality natural gas composition, exhibiting low inert content, containing less than 1 percent (carbon dioxide) CO2.

“Furthermore, the presence of helium gas in commercial concentrations in multiple reservoir units is comparable with global helium-producing fields and provides an additional high value by-product.

“We are extremely pleased with the results from the mudgas analysis, which confirm our geological modelling of the Cabora Bassa Basin and the presence of both light oil and gas-condensate provides us with confidence as we prepare for the drilling of Mukuyu-2 in third quarter this year.

“Success at Mukuyu-2 and confirmation of a significant discovery will further unlock the value of our material portfolio and basin master position in the Cabora Bassa Basin.”

Invictus Energy announced in 2019 it had entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tatanga Energy to progress gas supply for a plus or minus 500 megawatt (MW) gas to power plant in the event of a commercial gas discovery in its prospective areas.

Under the MoU, Invictus and Tatanga agreed to jointly work together and cooperate with regard to investigating the economic and commercial viability of supplying natural gas from the Cabora Bassa Project to the proposed Gas to Power Plant which will be sold to the national grid and/or to captive clients (mines, industrial and other large consumers of energy) in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.

The proposed gas-to-power plant will be built in two phases with the first phase estimated at plus or minus 150MW and the second phase consisting of an additional plus or minus 350MW.

The optimal location of the plant will be determined by factors including proposed pipeline routes and access to transmission infrastructure including the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The compositional analysis was completed for five priority mudgas samples acquired during the drilling of the Mukuyu-1 test well in selected Upper Angwa geologic reservoir units.

The results indicate the presence of light (volatile) high API (American Petroleum Institute) oil or oil-associated gas condensate in the shallower Upper Angwa reservoirs, which progressively become drier, that is, lower condensate gas ratio (CGR) with increasing depth in the Upper Angwa formation.

Invictus said the presence of liquid hydrocarbons (light oil and condensate) is consistent with the observed fluorescence (indications of aromatic petroleum products and compounds) and elevated mudgas readings with heavier hydrocarbon components observed during the drilling of Mukuyu-1.

The successful discovery of oil and gas in Zimbabwe will make the country energy self-sufficient, create employment, grow the economy and bring huge downstream benefits for the economy, President Mnangagwa said in 2021.

Speaking during the signing of the Petroleum Exploration Development and Production Agreement (PEDPA) with Invictus then, the President also said Zimbabwe’s oil and gas industry represented huge, unique and competitive investment opportunities given the significant potential for value chain linkages.

He said just “the prospect of oil discovery is exciting”, which will inevitably positively impact local communities and the national economy at large.

And less than two years later, the results of mudgas data analysis from the exploration drilling at the Mukuyu-1 test well have pointed to the possibility of the search for oil becoming a reality.-newsday