Noble Helium Ltd (ASX:NHE, OTC:NBHEF) has completed key site infrastructure at its Kinambo prospect in Tanzania, clearing the way for mobilisation ahead of the expected spudding of the first well in mid-September.
The company has completed the access road serving the Kinambo-1 and Kinambo-2 well locations, while construction of a 56-person accommodation camp has finished and commissioning is underway. Development of the two well pads is also progressing to schedule.
The work forms part of preparations for the upcoming drilling campaign at Kinambo, within Noble Helium's North Rukwa Project.
The Kinambo well pad taking shape ahead of the drilling rig's arrival.
The primary access road to the 2 planned wells was constructed over 6 weeks and is now available for personnel, drilling equipment and supporting logistics.
Noble Helium said final geological de-risking work designed to further inform drilling of the wells was also nearing completion, with results to be reported separately. A site visit and pre-logistics program is also planned ahead of drilling.
The accommodation camp has capacity for up to 56 personnel and was largely prefabricated in Dar es Salaam before being transported to site.
It includes eight single-occupancy rooms, one four-person room and bunkhouse accommodation for another 44 personnel working 12-hour shifts.
Supporting facilities include showers and bathrooms, a kitchen and dining complex and cold and dry storage, while the site has been connected to grid electricity and a local village water supply. An emergency backup generator has also been installed.
Well pad construction at Kinambo-1 and Kinambo-2 is continuing, with both locations expected to be ready to receive drilling equipment and personnel ahead of mobilisation.
The Kinambo well pad taking shape ahead of the drilling rig's arrival.
Attention is now shifting to mobilisation of the drilling rig and associated equipment, with the final well components required for the program expected to arrive during August.
Noble Helium has contracted SLB, formerly Schlumberger, to provide wireline logging, downhole sampling and wellsite analysis services during the campaign.
The company said data collected by SLB would be used to assess the western margin resource and help inform evaluation of the eastern margin.
SLB personnel and equipment are currently operating elsewhere in Tanzania, and Noble Helium has elected to align the start of drilling with their availability.
On the current timetable, drilling is expected to begin in mid-September, with site preparation forecast to be completed beforehand. The drilling rig is ready to move to Kinambo from its base in Kenya, while SLB logging and data-collection equipment is also expected to arrive in mid-September.
Separately, Noble Helium is funding construction of two classrooms at Kinambo Primary School following the collapse of a former classroom building, with the project being overseen by the Kinambo Village Construction Committee.