BG Group & Ophir complete appraisal programme at Jodari Field

FTSE 100-listed natural gas production company BG Group has, in partnership with Ophir Energy, completed an appraisal programme in the Jodari field of Block One in offshore Tanzania.

The drill stem test on the well - the first in deep water off Tanzania - flowed at a maximum rate of 70m standard cubic feet of natural gas per day, constrained by testing equipment, BG Group reported.

The company said that the results showed "better than expected" reservoir properties, including high connectivity and demonstrated that development wells could produce at higher rates.

BG Group Chief Executive Chris Finlayson said: "The completion of a multi-well exploration and appraisal programme on the Jodari field within a year of the original discovery is a significant achievement and a credit to our team and partners including Ophir Energy and the government of Tanzania.

"It builds upon our run of exploration success offshore Tanzania and further demonstrates the potential of BG Group's acreage," he added.

BG Group as operator has a 60% interest in blocks one, three and four in offshore Tanzania, with Ophir Energy holding 40%.

Nick Cooper, the Chief Executive Officer of Ophir, added: "This excellent flow rate is an important milestone in delivering Tanzania's first LNG [liquefied natural gas] development. The test results confirm the Jodari reservoir's world-class quality; and the potential for the field to underpin the LNG development."

MF