ogether with its partner Repsol, RWE Dea spudded the first exploration well in Licence Block Ta10 in Mauritania. The well is intended to provide information about the hydrocarbon potential of the licence area.

The Ouguiya-1 well in the desert of Mauritania is being drilled using the Saipem 5893 drilling rig. Its primary targets are Precambrian formations. The well is scheduled to be completed within the second quarter of 2014.

“We are very pleased that together with our partner, we have commenced this well, which is both challenging from an engineering point as well as being of great interest in geological terms,” explained Dr Werner Schwarzhans, Senior Vice President Exploration RWE Dea AG. “Prospects of such an early Precambrian age have rarely been explored to date,” said Schwarzhans.

Prior to drilling, modern 2D seismic data were acquired during the years 2008 to 2010. These new data were interpreted in combination with re-processed older 2D seismic data.

RWE Dea holds a 30% interest in Licence Block Ta10, with the operator Repsol holding 70%. The block is located in the poorly explored Taoudeni Basin in the desert of central Mauritania, some 800 kilometres inland from the Atlantic coast.
RWE Dea acquired its share in Block Ta10 in 2007. The licence area covers 14,450 square kilometres.

Shares in Licence Block Ta10:
RWE Dea AG: 30%
Repsol (operator):70%

About RWE Dea

RWE Dea has had a presence in the United Kingdom since 2002 and maintains a solid licence portfolio. This is one of the key regions for the upstream business of RWE Dea AG. Another key milestone was accomplished in 2012 with the successful start of production from the Clipper South natural gas field. Natural gas production in the UK sector of the Southern North Sea has meanwhile been continually stepped up from about 270,000 cubic meters of gas per day in 2005 to a current level of around 1.3 million cubic meters of gas a day. RWE Dea UK currently employs more than 100 personnel in its offices in London.

About Repsol

Repsol is an integrated global energy company with vast sector experience. It carries out Upstream and Downstream activities throughout the entire world.