The data that turned a discovery into a giant
With the farm-out complete and funding secured, the stage was set for the next big step: a fresh look beneath the surface. Until then, Aminex and its partners had relied mostly on 2D seismic data and the encouraging results of Ntorya-1 and Ntorya-2. It was enough to prove hydrocarbons, but not enough to map the full extent of the resource.
That changed when 3D seismic was acquired across the Ruvuma acreage. For the first time, the subsurface could be seen in high resolution. The results were striking. Structures that had been hinted at on 2D were revealed in detail. Reservoir connectivity was better understood. New drilling targets came into focus.
Most importantly, the numbers jumped. Independent assessments, incorporating the new seismic data, lifted the estimated gas in place from the hundreds of billions of cubic feet into multiple trillions. Ntorya was no longer just a promising field — it was Tanzania’s largest onshore gas development in the making.
For Aminex, still holding its 25% interest on a free carry, the upgrade was a game-changer. The farm-out had already ensured the company would not be bankrupted by development costs. Now the seismic confirmed that the upside was far greater than originally imagined. A quarter share of a small discovery is one thing; a quarter share of a multi-TCF basin is quite another.
The new seismic also laid the technical groundwork for the Chikumbi-1 (CH-1) well. Designed to test deeper zones and provide further calibration of the seismic data, CH-1 would help convert gas in place into booked reserves — the critical step for financing and long-term planning.
For shareholders, the 3D seismic was the moment the story shifted gears again. Ntorya wasn’t just commercial — it was strategic, both for Tanzania’s energy security and for Aminex’s future.
➡️ Next time: Chapter Ten — To Be Continued. With the CPF under construction, pipeline contracts in place, and CH-1 on the horizon, the next RNS will carry the story into first gas and the long-awaited cashflow era.