Increased deepwater drilling seen off W. Africa. (Wood Mackenzie Consultants Ltd. report)(Brief Article)

Exploration drilling in deep water off West Africa is on the upswing.

Wood Mackenzie Consultants Ltd., Edinburgh, expects 1995 activity to account for 15 deepwater wells drilled in the region.

The analyst defines deep water as 200 m or more.

Wood Mackenzie said deep water off West Africa holds three commercial oil discoveries, of which Nkossa is the most significant. Although it was discovered in 1984, it just now is under development.

"With liquids reserves of 600 million bbl, we regard Nkossa as the real pointer to the great potential of the West African deepwater province," Wood Mackenzie said.

There are 17 current exploration licenses off …