The three successful wells so far drilled by the joint venture of BG Group (60%) and Ophir Energy plc (40% operator) form part of an initial work programme planned for Blocks 1, 3 and 4 offshore Tanzania. The initial work programme also includes the acquisition of a minimum of 4 000 square kilometres of 3D seismic data. BG Group has the option to assume operatorship of all three blocks upon completion of the initial work programme.

To date in 2011, a 3 200 square kilometre 3D seismic survey has been acquired in Blocks 3 and 4, and a second 3D survey of 1 800 square kilometres is nearing completion in Block 1. It is intended that a second drilling campaign will commence in late 2011.

In May 2010, BG Group received consent from the government of the United Republic of Tanzania to farm-in to interests held by Ophir Energy plc offshore southern Tanzania in Blocks 1, 3 & 4 of the Mafia Deep Offshore Basin and the northern portion of the Ruvuma basin.

In December 2010 BG Group announced that its second Tanzanian exploration well, Chewa-1, had also discovered gas. The well, located in Block 4 approximately 80 kilometres offshore southern Tanzania in a water depth of around 1 300 metres, is some eight kilometres north-west of BG Group's Pweza-1 gas discovery announced in October 2010.

Source: www.bg-group.com