Tlou Starts Production Testing at Botswana CBM Project
Australia-listed but Africa-focused Tlou Energy has started production testing at the Lesedi 3 development well or ‘pod’ at its coalbed methane (CBM) project in Botswana, it said February 25. The company successfully completed the drilling of the Lesedi 3 earlier this month.
“Production equipment has been installed and production testing is now underway. Production testing involves de-watering and lowering of the pressure in the coal seam to achieve gas flow. Testing procedures will continue over the coming months with initial performance data expected in Q22019,” it said.
Drilling has also been completed on the first of two lateral sections (Lesedi 4A) of the Lesedi 4 development pod, it added. Drilling of the second lateral well (Lesedi 4B) is ongoing. This well is planned to be the final well in the current drilling phase.
The Lesedi project in Botswana covers about 3,800 km2 and consists of four coal and CBM prospecting licences (PL) and a mining licence. The latter area is the focal point for Tlou's operations and includes the Lesedi pilot wells and the Selemo pilot wells where Tlou had been flaring gas before the start of the drilling programme.
Tlou also has the Mamba project, adjacent to Lesedi, which consists of five coal and CBM PLs, covering about 4,500 km2.