Feb. 2012 - Statoil and ExxonMobil have confirmed they made a large gas discovery in the Zafarani prospect offshore Tanzania in Block 2. Earlier this month, the company reported that Zafarani-1 had encountered gas shows in a good-quality reservoir. Statoil spudded the well in early January 2012 with the Ocean Rig Poseidon (UDW drillship). Logging results reveal that the discovery is high-impact, so far proving that the well holds up to 5 Tcf of gas-in-place. Zafarani-1 has encountered 393 feet (120 meters) of excellent quality reservoir with high porosity and high permeability, commented the operator. The gas-water contact has not been established and drilling operations will continue until total depth is reached. Zafarani is the first exploration well that has been drilled in the license, covering an area of approximately 2,120 square miles (5,500 square kilometers). The water depth at the well location is 8,470 feet (2,582 meters) and the well itself will be drilled to reach an expected total depth of around 16,730 feet (5,100 meters).

Feb. 2012 - Statoil confirmed that the Zafarai-1 well in Block 2 offshore Tanzania has encountered natural gas in a good-quality reservoir. The operator said it is too early to give any indication of size and commerciality. Drilling operations are ongoing and should take about three months to complete. The well is being drilled by the Ocean Rig Poseidon (UDW drillship) to a total depth of 16,900 feet (5,150 meters). Zafarai-1 is the first well drilled in the license, which covers an area of about 1.3 million acres (5,500 square kilometers). The water depth of the site is 8,470 feet (2,582 meters).

Mar. 2010 - Statoil signed an agreement with ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Tanzania Ltd. to transfer 35% of its interest in the deepwater Block 2 off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. Spanning 2 million acres (11,099 square kilometers), Block 2 lies in water depths ranging from 1,312 to 9,842 feet (400 to 3,000 meters). During the first quarter of 2008, a 1 million acre (6,200-kilometer) 2D seismic survey was acquired and final processed data was delivered in February 2010. Statoil plans to drill the first well in this frontier area in 2011. Statoil still serves as the operator of the block, retaining a 65% interest.