The Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) said it has started
the process that would lead to the exploration of oil and gas in the
Sokoto Basin.
A statement signed by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal’s
spokesman Malam Imam Imam and issued to Newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday
said that “the NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baro, stated
this when he received Gov. Tambuwal, who paid a working visit to the
NNPC Towers in
Abuja’’.
“We have been on the issue of exploration in the frontier basins.
“And
so far some measures of steps have been taken, as such already
purchased aeromagnetic data and its being interpreted to determine the
sedimentary thickness and the basin configuration.
“Secondly, we have awarded a contract for the geological mapping of the basin.
“And
I am happy to state here that outcrop samples have been collected,
mapped, analysed and geological modelling executed so as to ensure data
integration,” Baro said
The GMD added that discussions were
on-going with Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) to award contract
for surface geochemistry, ground gravity and magnetics.
“This is
necessary to determine if hydrocarbon is generated in the basins and
importantly, to integrate all data for understanding of petroleum
systems of the basins.
“NNPC will also carry out high resolution
regional 2D seismic data acquisition to identify leads and prospects,
after which a 3D seismic data acquisition will be carried out over leads
and prospects.
“After all these are carried out, we will then begin to drill for oil and gas in the basin,” Baro added.
While
commending Tambuwal for the visit, he assured that the cooperation was
giving required attention to renewable energy and inland basins in order
to create a prosperous future for the entity.
Earlier, Tambuwal
said various studies had been carried out by the government on the
Sokoto Basins, the result of which would be made available to the NNPC
to aid its efforts.
He said the government, in collaboration with
the Usman Danfodio University, would organise a national conference on
the Sokoto Basin in October where international scholars would make
presentations on the topic.
“We are inviting you and the NNPC to
take part in this important conference because we believe it will add
value in our search for hydrocarbon in the Sokoto Basin,” he said.
He
said historical records indicated that the presence of hydrocarbon in
the Sokoto Basin had been a subject of interest to geologists for long, a
situation that made Italian oil giants, Elf, to consider preliminary
exploration activities beginning from the 50s.
He said Sokoto government would welcome the start of activities and would support any effort that will lead to positive result.
Source: Vanguard
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