TG World Energy Corp. announced that mobilization is continuing successfully toward drilling of the Saha-1 Exploration Well in the Ténéré Block, Niger, despite the extraordinary weather events and logistical difficulties that have impacted the Ténéré operations in the past month. The Saha-1 well is the first of three back-to-back wells scheduled to be drilled on the Ténéré concession.
The Project Operator, CNPC International Ténéré (“CNPCIT”), a unit of the China National Petroleum Corporation, has advised TG World that transportation of the rig and drilling supplies to the drilling site was hampered by the extended period of out-of-the-ordinary rains and flooding experienced in the Agadez-Ténéré region of the Sahara Desert in August and September, as well as certain other logistical difficulties. As reported extensively in the international media, the extraordinary rains dislocated thousands of desert residents from their homes. For a period of several weeks, the inclement weather made sections of the desert terrain extremely difficult for mobilizing drilling equipment and supplies. Weather of this nature rarely occurs in the desert areas in Niger – usually decades apart – but has a devastating effect when it does happen.
TG World has been advised that despite the difficulties, the drilling rig and all other drilling services and related equipment (shipped from China), have reached the Saha-1 drilling location. Construction of the drilling lease has been completed and the operations bases at Agadez and Saha-1 are fully functional.
CNPCIT has advised TG World that once equipment testing has been completed, rig-up will commence and CNPCIT hopes to spud the Saha-1 well by the end of October 2006.