TotalEnergies-led group assessing oil potential south of Venus offshore Namibia

Feb. 27, 2024
Appraisal drilling continues around the Venus oil discovery in the Orange basin offshore Namibia.

Offshore staff

VANCOUVER, Canada – Appraisal drilling continues around the Venus oil discovery in the Orange basin offshore Namibia, according to Africa Oil’s latest results statement.

The company has an indirect interest in surrounding block 2913B via its 31.1% shareholding in Impact Oil & Gas, a partner to operator TotalEnergies.

Mangetti-1X, drilled 35 km north-west of the Venus-1X oil discovery well, intersected hydrocarbon bearing intervals in the Mangetti fan prospect, a separate fan system to Venus.

Drilling continues on the Venus-2A appraisal well, 17 km north-west of Venus-1X location, with results from both wells to be incorporated in development studies.

Processing of new 3D seismic data currently shooting may improve definition of prospectivity on the block to the south of Venus, Africa Oil added, and could lead to drilling of more high-impact exploration wells on separate fan structures later this year or in 2025.

In the South African sector of the offshore Orange basin, the company now has a 26.25% operated stake in block 3B/4B after concluding a transaction with Azinam.

The partners are working on plans for a two-well campaign and are engaging with a South African environmental consulting firm for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment process to secure permitting and drilling activity.

In Nigerian offshore lease OML 130, a drilling campaign that started a year ago has led to one new producer and two new water injectors coming online at the Egina field and two producers at Akpo West, connected to the Akpo FPSO.

Up to four more wells could be drilled this year, with an option to extend the rig contract for drilling more wells on the block.

New 4D monitor seismic surveys are planned for Akpo, Egina and Agbami plus a baseline 4D seismic survey of the Preowei field. Results will inform future drilling decisions on both OML 127 and OML 130.

FEED studies continue for the Preowei oilfield development project, a potential subsea tieback to the Egina FPSO to the south.

Finally, at blocks EG-18 and EG-31 off Equatorial Guinea, seismic reprocessing and subsurface studies will continue over the next few months to refine confirmed prospects and identify others and to prioritize a potential target on EG-31 for drilling in 2025.

Africa Oil aims to farm-down part of its 80% operated shares of both blocks.

02.27.2024