Sound Energy announces significant progress in the Tendrara gas project and extends exploration licenses in eastern Morocco until 2028.
British company Sound Energy Plc, listed on the AIM market in London, has announced meaningful advancements in its natural gas development project in the Tendrara area of eastern Morocco, alongside the extension of exploration licenses in the Anoual basin until 2028.
The company stated that the project operator, Mana Energy Ltd, successfully completed the initial operational phase of the gas gathering system within the first stage of the project, achieving a secure flow of gas from wells Te-6 and Te-7 while testing various system components, including wellheads, flow lines, control valves, thermal separators, liquid separators, and flares.
Additionally, the report indicated that the Tendrara site is equipped with nine high-performance generators to meet operational energy needs, including seven gas generators with a capacity of 2,260 kilovolt-amperes and two diesel generators with a capacity of 1,600 kilovolt-amperes, integrated within container systems designed to operate in temperatures of up to 47 degrees Celsius.
In the coming weeks, the commencement of operations of the gas generators using gas produced from one of the wells in the first phase is expected, following the separation of liquids. This will reduce reliance on diesel, lowering operating costs and direct emissions.
Regarding exploration, the Anoual basin licenses have been extended to cover a remaining area of 5,031 square kilometers, compared to the original license area of 8,873 square kilometers.
Project shares are distributed as follows: Sound Energy holds 27.5 percent without operating rights, the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) holds 25 percent, while the operator, Mana Energy, owns the remaining 47.5 percent.
The new exploration license extension lasts until September 7, 2028, with a commitment to drill a primary exploration well targeting Triassic layers. If the drilling is successful, the operator can conduct a 3D seismic survey over an area of 150 square kilometers, along with drilling an additional exploration well.
Mana Energy is expected to drill the M5 well, with limited financial contribution from Sound Energy amounting to $2.57 million, in partnership with the Moroccan group Managem.
In a statement, the CEO of the company, Majid Chafik, deemed the progress made in the Tendrara project “very encouraging” and a “significant milestone” in developing the first phase, emphasizing that the extension of the Anoual licenses provides enough temporal clarity to implement a comprehensive exploration program in a promising area of eastern Morocco.
