UK's Rift Helium Launches 3D Seismic Survey at Tanzania Helium Project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, UK-based Rift Helium commenced 3D seismic data acquisition at the Upepo project in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin, with plans to complete a seismic survey of approximately 90 square kilometers. The coverage area is about 83% larger than the original plan announced at the time of the company's listing, while the exploration budget has increased by only 18%. The acquisition will be used to identify subsurface geological structures that may trap helium and to determine well locations for two exploration wells to be drilled in the first half of 2027.

The survey focuses on the priority exploration areas of the Upepo project. Rift Helium had previously identified five exploration targets using existing geological data and 2D seismic data, primarily distributed in the eastern PL12093/2022 license area. The new 3D seismic data will further reveal the spatial geometry, scale, and fault boundaries of subsurface structures, helping to determine where helium may accumulate and to rank the existing targets.

On-site work has entered the data acquisition phase. Seismic receiver nodes began deployment on November 9, the field camp is now operational, and the seismic acquisition crew and support service personnel have mobilized to the site. The company's Chief Operating Officer is on-site overseeing operations. On-site personnel training is being conducted concurrently with data acquisition.

In terms of resource assessment, the Upepo project's current independently assessed mid-case (P50) helium prospective resource is approximately 19 billion cubic feet. The company plans to integrate the 3D seismic data with existing geological and geophysical data to produce a new subsurface structural interpretation, which is expected to be updated in the first quarter of 2027.