U.S. oil and gas firm Anadarko Petroleum Corp said on Monday it had made its fourth natural gas discovery in the Rovuma Basin, the latest in a string of major deepwater natural gas discoveries off the coast of Mozambique.

The Tubarao discovery well encountered more than 110 net feet of natural gas pay and no water, which is separate and distinct from the hydrocarbon accumulations in Anadarko's three previous discoveries in the area, the company said.

The discovery well was drilled to a total depth of about 13,900 feet in water depths of about 2,950 feet, about 18 miles (29 kilometres) off the Mozambique coast, Anadarko said.

The discovery at the Tubarao prospect opens an entirely new play style, which has additional opportunities in Mozambique's Offshore Area 1, Anadarko Senior Vice President Bob Daniels said in a statement.

Anadarko is the operator of the 2.6 million acre Offshore Area 1 with a 36.5 percent working interest in the consortium.

The consortium includes Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Ltd, BPRL Ventures Mozambique BV, Videocon Mozambique Rovuma 1 Ltd and Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore Ltd.

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