OREANDA-NEWS. Together with its partner Repsol, RWE Dea spudded the first exploration well in Licence Block Ta10 in Mauritania. The well is intended to provide information about the hydrocarbon potential of the licence area.

Block Ta10 in Mauritania

The Ouguiya-1 well in the desert of Mauritania is being drilled using the Saipem 5893 drilling rig. Its primary targets are Precambrian formations. The well is scheduled to be completed within the second quarter of 2014.

“We are very pleased that together with our partner, we have commenced this well, which is both challenging from an engineering point as well as being of great interest in geological terms,” explained Dr Werner Schwarzhans, Senior Vice President Exploration RWE Dea AG. “Prospects of such an early Precambrian age have rarely been explored to date,” said Schwarzhans.

Prior to drilling, modern 2D seismic data were acquired during the years 2008 to 2010. These new data were interpreted in combination with re-processed older 2D seismic data.

RWE Dea holds a 30% interest in Licence Block Ta10, with the operator Repsol holding 70%. The block is located in the poorly explored Taoudeni Basin in the desert of central Mauritania, some 800 kilometres inland from the Atlantic coast.

RWE Dea acquired its share in Block Ta10 in 2007. The licence area covers 14,450 square kilometres.