Tullow Oil has discovered gas at an exploration well in the L8 Licence area, the first hydrocarbon discovery offshore Kenya.

In a very brief statement on Monday morning, the company said that the Mbawa-1 exploration well was drilled to a depth of 2,553 metres and encountered around 52 metres of net gas pay in porous Cretaceous sandstones.

The well will be drilled to a total depth of 3,275 metres to target further exploration objectives, the firm said.

Angus McCoss, Tullow's Exploration Director, commented: "A gas discovery on prognosis in the shallowest objective at Mbawa-1 is an encouraging start to our East African Transform Margin exploration campaign. This is the first hydrocarbon discovery offshore Kenya.

"The on-going drilling remains on course to test for any deeper oil potential within this gas prone region".

Tullow holds just a 15% in the Block L8 Licence, while the operator, Apache, has a 50% interest, Origin Energy owns 20% and Pancontinental holds 15%.

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