Africa Oil Corp. T.AOI

new exploration well in venus block

[hikari]

TotalEnergies set to drill surprise exploration well in Namibia’s prolific Orange basin

"TotalEnergies is set to drill a surprise exploration well this year on its prolific Namibian acreage, targeting an intriguing prospect with different geology to its big Venus oil and gas discoveries. Exploration and appraisal drilling activity in Namibia's Orange basin is in the midst of a lull following a plethora of almost non-stop activity since early 2022 when the first two big finds were unveiled. So this move by the French supermajor will be welcomed by the Namibian government for keeping the news flow going while it prepares for further drilling campaigns later this year.

TotalEnergies chief executive, Patrick Pouyanne, confirmed to Upstream that the company will mobilise the semi-submersible drilling rig Deepsea Mira to the Orange basin once it completes its current operation in Congo-Brazzaville. Speaking on the sidelines of an ONS 2024 session in Stavanger, he said that TotalEnergies “will drill an exploration well”, but declined to elaborate.

However, one well-placed market source subsequently advised Upstream that the well — to be called Tamboti-1X — will be drilled in the northeast of Block 2913B, adding that it would not target the same reservoirs as Venus. Another well-watcher familiar with Namibia also told Upstream that the well is targeting the same geological play that proved so successful in Galp Energia’s Mopane-1X probe in a block just to the northeast. The reservoir at Venus comprises Early Cretaceous sands, while Mopane, according to third-party information, is thought to house Late Cretaceous sands.

In recent weeks, there had been talk that TotalEnergies was looking to drill on its Namibian acreage, with suggestions the well could target a prospect called Koekerboom, in the southern part of the block. At that time, a knowledgeable source confirmed the French supermajor would drill a well, but little more than that could be gleaned in the market."