The National Oil Corporation of Kenya is in a partnership with Schlumberger Limited, a US-based oilfield services company, to create a field development plan for the Lokichar oil discoveries. The plan will assess the scope of work being carried out by Tullow Oil, Maersk Oil, and Africa Oil to ensure that the country’s interest is protected.
The National Oil Corporation says the one-year partnership with Schlumberger will target “technology transfer in reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry.” Furthermore, the partnership will improve the corporation’s role in advising the government about the industry.
“Through this engagement with Schlumberger National Oil will be equipped to better advise the Government on the best principles and practices for developing the oil discoveries in Lokichar with a view to safeguarding national interest,” Mary Jane Mwangi, CEO National Oil said.
Nearly 25 staff from the Ministries of Petroleum and Mining and the National Oil Corporation will gain from the “comprehensive technical skills transfer in oil and gas.”
Kenya will begin the commercialisation of the crude oil once the Lokichar-Lamu pipeline is complete. Additionally, preliminary estimates show that Kenya has about 750 million barrels of crude oil reserves.
