US-based firm, Camac Energy, is commencing exploration for oil and natural gas on two blocks in Lamu.

Camac has a contracted Canadian firm Sander Geophysics Limited to undertake geophysical surveys on the L1B and L16 onshore blocks in Lamu.

Meanwhile, Sander Geophysics will do an airborne gravity and magnetic geophysical surveys that are expected to give data on the land formation in the region.

The data acquisition will cover the entire 12,197 sq kms in Block L1B and the entire 3,613 sq kms in Block L16, exceeding the first exploration period’s gravity and magnetic survey requirements for each Block. The process of gathering data is expected to commence in the second quarter of this year, and initial results in third quarter of this year.

Important milestone

“This is an important milestone for our Kenya exploration program,” said the Senior Vice President of Exploration and Production, Segun Omidele.

“These gravity and magnetic surveys will satisfy the first requirement of the first exploration period, and most importantly, will allow us to delineate an optimal 2-D seismic program on the Blocks. This is the first step to unlocking the high potential value of our onshore Kenya acreage.”

Camac Energy is among the global energy firms flocking to the country with hopes of striking oil. The firm mid 2012 signed Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with Kenya’s ministry of energy for 4 blocks in Kenya with one licence still pending.

Under the agreement, the company is the named operator with 100 per cent net interest on all of the blocks, but the Government has the option to participate at 20 per cent upon development.

In addition to the two onshore blocks L1B and L16, the firm also operates L27 and L28 offshore blocks that are off the coast of Lamu.

Omidele said the results of the airborne gravity and magnetic survey will be used to optimise the placement of 2-D seismic lines by identifying faults, basement structures and intra-sedimentary volcanic layers and/or intrusions.