Shell in the Orange BasinShell's return to Namibia should bring some more attention to Namibia once again. They have been active in S. Africa for a while now and recently completed a huge siesmic program to the south of the Namibian border. They liked what they saw and it led to the aquisition of the blocks from Signet. They have plans to drill a well in the orange basin this year.
Orange Basin Should See Shell Spud in 2014
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
South Africa could see drilling off its west coast in the Orange Basin in 2014 if Shell’s interpretation of seismic pans out. The company should finalize the interpretation of seismic data collected from the Orange Basin and should commence drilling exploration wells next year.
The company will drill wells deep in the sea, in water depths of more than two km deep, 150 km offshore, and close to the Namibian Kudu gas field.
“We’ll be making an investment decision before the end of the year and then reserve a time slot on the drilling machine,” Jan Willem Eggink, Shell South Africa’s GM for upstream business, said during a media briefing.
“We’re searching for oil and condensate in the Orange Basin,” said Eggink. According to Shell and based on its own preliminary investigations, the company will find something after drilling “a few wells.”
The company also plans to be busy onshore and has slated at least $250 million for drilling a minimum of six exploration wells for shale gas in the Karoo Basin. The company is one of three applicants for exploration licenses for shale gas, and its application covers 185,000 sq km.
It is expected that the licenses will be awarded once the regulatory framework is in place regarding hydraulic fracturing. South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister, Susan Shabangu, reported that the proposals for the regulation process had been published and the public would have a month to comment before the framework is finalized.
“We would never have bothered applying for a license if we didn’t believe we would get it,” said Bonang Mohale, Shell South Africa chairman, at the same briefing. Mohale added that the case for gas “is very compelling” in South Africa.
https://www.shell.com/zaf/aboutshell/shell-businesses/e-and-p/orange-basin-old.html
GLTA
Wallywill