QatarEnergy, bp expand offshore Namibia exploration activities

Fresh investments by QatarEnergy and bp underscore growing industry confidence in offshore Namibia's exploration potential.

Jeremy Beckman

Nov. 11, 2026

2 min read

Add Us On Google

Why this news matters:

QatarEnergy’s entry into Chevron’s Walvis Basin license adds another major international player to offshore Namibia, reinforcing industry confidence in the country’s exploration potential.
Upcoming drilling at the Gemsbock prospect and a new bp-led 3D seismic campaign highlight growing exploration activity beyond Namibia’s highly active Orange Basin.

offshore drilling rig near Walvis Bay, Namibia — International operators are expanding exploration programs across Namibia's offshore basins, including the Walvis Basin and Orange Basin.

International operators are expanding their offshore Namibia positions as exploration activity accelerates across both the emerging Walvis Basin and the more established Orange Basin.

Chevron, QatarEnergy target Walvis Basin potential

PEL 82 map — Sintana Energy says PEL 82 is considered one of the most technically advanced offshore opportunities in Namibia outside the Orange Basin.

QatarEnergy has agreed to join Chevron in an exploration block in the Walvis Basin offshore central Namibia.

Subject to regulatory approvals, QatarEnergy will acquire a 25% interest in petroleum exploration license 0082 (PEL82), covering blocks 2112B and 2212A.

The 11,444-sq-km license area is in water depths ranging from 350 m to 2,300 m.

Chevron (as operator) would retain a 55% stake, with Namcor E&P and Custos Energy each holding a 10% interest.

Sintana Energy, which has an indirect interest in Custos, said Chevron will likely spud the Gemsbock-1X exploration well on the license in the next few months, after concluding drilling on another license in the Orange Basin to the south.

Having QatarEnergy’s technical team review the data on PEL 82 “confirms our view of the potential of the Walvis Basin,” Custos reported. “We believe it will end up being more productive than the Orange Basin.”

The Wingat-1 discovery well drilled in 2013 on the southern part of the license confirmed regional extension and active petroleum systems in the Walvis Basin, according to Custos’ website, recovering 38-41°API oil to surface.

bp prepares seismic campaign on offshore Namibian licenses

Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas has received formal confirmation from Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy of Namibia for entry into the next exploration period for three offshore petroleum exploration licenses.

This relates to an approved farm-down agreement under which bp has assumed operatorship of Block 2012A PEL97 (the Cooper license), blocks 2111B and 2211A PEL99 (Guy license), and blocks 2211B and 2311A PEL100 (Tamar license).

The new partnership is currently preparing for an extensive 3D seismic acquisition program (at least 3,000 sq km) that should start in the next few weeks over PEL99 and PEL100.

Exclusive content:

Deepwater

Frontier exploration extending to more basins offshore Africa

Africa and the Mediterranean are poised for a significant deepwater exploration year in 2026, with up to 19 high-impact wells planned across Namibia, East Africa and Greece, driven...

March 17, 2026

About the Author

Jeremy Beckman

Staff Writer / Editor, Europe

Jeremy Beckman has been Editor Europe, Offshore since 1992. Prior to joining Offshore he was a freelance journalist for eight years, working for a variety of electronics, computing and scientific journals in the UK. He regularly writes news columns on trends and events both in the NW Europe offshore region and globally. He also writes features on developments and technology in exploration and production.