Uganda has successfully drilled 74 oil wells in its western and northern regions, preparing for commercial production set to begin next year.
Ruth Nankabirwa, minister of energy and mineral development, told journalists on Wednesday during a press conference in the Ugandan capital of Kampala that the 74 wells had been drilled at Tilenga and Kingfisher production areas.
In 2022, a final investment decision was announced by joint venture partners TotalEnergies E&P Uganda, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) Uganda Limited, and Uganda National Oil Company to undertake various upstream projects on behalf of the government of Uganda.
The projects include Tilenga and Kingfisher production areas, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to transport crude oil to the East African coast in Tanzania, and the Uganda Refinery Project.
At the Tilenga project, Nankabirwa said, “Sixty-three out of the planned 426 wells have been successfully completed, with positive hydrocarbon shows in the targeted reservoirs.”
“Drilling activities have so far focused on six of the 31 well pads that will host 426 producer and injector wells for the Tilenga project. All three rigs designated for drilling are operational, and a total of 63 wells have been drilled as of August 16, 2024,” the minister added.
In addition, she said, seven other well pads are over 85 percent complete and ready to receive a rig.
According to the minister, civil works at the Tilenga Industrial Area, which is supposed to host the central processing facility, a drilling support base, a construction camp, and other facilities, are 99.7 percent complete.
At the Kingfisher Oil field operated by CNOOC Uganda Limited, nine of the 11 wells required for First Oil had been successfully drilled.
“The development plan (at Kingfisher) includes a central processing facility with a capacity of 40,000 barrels per day and the drilling of 31 wells across four well pads,” the minister said.
In January 2023, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni launched the drilling of oil for commercial production at the Kingfisher Oil Field.
The minister added that China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering and the EACOP construction contractor have started civil works at the pump stations, main camp, and pipe yard sites in both Uganda and Tanzania. The EACOP stretches 1,443 km from Hoima District in western Uganda to Tanga Port in Tanzania.
According to the ministry, Uganda discovered 6.5 billion barrels of oil in 2006, with 1.4 billion barrels deemed commercially viable.
