The well, which is now being unplugged, has penetrated 149m of interbedded sands and shales of the Triassic Adigrat Formation with no oil or gas shows and only minor porosity exhibited on electric logs.
The company earlier noted that the Upper Cretaceous Jesomma sands did exhibit porosity and hydrocarbon shows but produced only fresh water on a drill stem test.
Africa Oil president and CEO Keith Hill said, "While we were disappointed that we were not able to flow oil from the first two exploration wells in our Puntland (Somalia) drilling campaign, we remain highly encouraged that all of the critical elements exist for oil accumulations, namely a working petroleum system, good quality reservoirs and thick seal rocks."
Encouraged by the Shabeel wells, Horn Petroleum, Range Resources and Red Emperor plan to enter the next exploration period in both the Nugaal and Dharoor Valley Production Sharing Contracts to drill one well in each block within an additional three year term.
Hill added that it often takes a number of wells to find commercial hydrocarbons and the firm plans to continue its aggressive program to unlock the potential of this highly prospective region.
The Puntland exploration program is operated by Horn Petroleum and Africa Oil holds about 45% equity interest in Horn which in turn holds a 60% working interest in the Dharoor and Nugaal Valley blocks.
The other partners in the blocks include Range Resources and Red Emperor, who hold 20% interest each.
