rig is on the way!

Second oil well to be drilled in Arua
Tuesday, 9th February, 2010
E-mail article E-mail article Print article Print article
A truck carrying parts of the oil machinery driving through Arua last week

A truck carrying parts of the oil machinery driving through Arua last week

By Frank Mugabi

ARRANGEMENTS to drill a second oil well at Avivi-1 in Arua district received a major boost over the weekend as parts of the long-awaited rig (drilling equipment) started moving in.

Residents have been waiting keenly since the first well, Iti-1, was drilled and abandoned in June last year for lack of commercially viable hydrocarbons.

Peter Kingston, the chairman of Neptune Petroleum Uganda, the firm licensed to explore oil in the area, said the oil-drilling process in Avivi-1 would start as soon as the rig was assembled.

Kingston noted that the prospects at Avivi-1 exploration well are more promising than at Iti-1.

He, however, gave no guarantee of success and, therefore, urged the public to remain patient until initial results from the well were obtained.

I have to stress that as with the first well, we cant be very sure of what we are going to find, but there are signs that one day oil will be found in this area, Kingston told residents last week.

He added that the results of Iti-1 and subsequent evaluation work had greatly improved their understanding of Exploration Area 5.

It will take about two weeks to drill the well to full depth.