Block 34 covers 6400 square kilometers and is located in the Kafue Trough approximately 150 kilometers southwest of the capital Lusaka. This area has had no previous hydrocarbon exploration and may form a part of the southwestern extension of the productive East African rift system.

History of Oil and Gas Exploration in Zambia

Regional aeromagnetic data were acquired in 1984 in addition to a limited geological study. In 1984 a Landsat interpretation was completed by Earth Satellite Corporation and between 1984 and 1985 a gravity survey was undertaken by Geoterrex. From a petroleum standpoint the aeromagnetic survey has identified the extensive sedimentary basins that are present under the regional Kalahari sands. The first exploration program carried out by an oil company was in the Luangwa Basin by Placid Oil in 1986. This work included the acquisition of gravity data, 2D seismic data, photo geology, geochemistry, Landsat information and field sampling. Between 1987 and 1988 Placid Oil drilled two wells on their concession A in the Luangwa Basin. The wells, Chama-1 and the Luangwa-1 (2710m), failed to find hydrocarbons mainly because they did not penetrate the prospective Lower Karoo formations. These wells did, however, provide valuable information on the sub-surface geology of the area. Placid Oil also acquired gravity and limited seismic data on Block C in the Kafue Trough area in 1986. They relinquished this Block in 1988. The remaining basins in Zambia are unexplored for oil and gas.