Oil exploration firm Tullow Oil said it would abandon an exploration well in the North Lokichar basin, Northern Kenya, after it failed to find oil or gas.

The Emesek-1 exploration well is located in Block 13T, where Tullow has a 50 per cent stake and partner Africa Oil Corporation the remaining 50 per cent. The exploration well reached a total depth of 3,000 metres without finding commercial hydrocarbons.

The rig will move to the South Lokichar basin to drill the Etom-2 well.

“The Emesek-1 well was the first well to be drilled in the North Lokichar basin,” said Angus McCoss, exploration director with Tullow Oil. While this wildcat well did not find commercial hydrocarbons, it provides valuable data as we assess the wider prospectivity of this basin.”