More exploration drilling possible around Venus area offshore Namibia

Offshore staff

VANCOUVER, Canada — Africa Oil has issued updates on its E&P activities offshore southern and western Africa in its latest results statement.

In the Orange Basin offshore Namibia, operator TotalEnergies will perform technical studies this year to define a potential development concept for the large Venus oilfield discovery.

The Mangetti-1X exploration well, drilled 35 km northwest of the Venus-1X discovery well, intersected hydrocarbon-bearing intervals in the Mangetti fan prospect. This is a separate fan system to Venus, and it could warrant appraisal of the Mangetti fan.

Recently completed processing of data from a 3D seismic survey could improve definition of prospectivity on Block 2193B to the south of Venus. The joint venture may decide to drill further high-impact exploration wells on separate fan structures on the block in late 2024 or 2025, once 3D seismic interpretation work has finished.

Offshore Nigeria, five wells have been completed in the latest infill drilling campaign on PML 2 and PML 3 over the Akpo and Egina fields. The contract for the rig has been extended to the end of October with the aim of drilling a further five wells by that point, mainly to offset production declines at the two fields.

A 4D monitor seismic survey on Akpo concluded during the first quarter, and similar surveys are planned this year for other parts of Akpo, Egina and Agbami, along with a baseline 4D seismic survey of the Preowei Field, a planned subsea tieback to the Egina FPSO. The FEED for Preowei should be completed later this year, with first oil targeted for 2027.

These 4D surveys will support future drilling decisions across PML 2, 3 and 52.

Finally, Africa Oil is maintaining its farm-down process of its 80% operated interests in blocks EG-18 and EG-31 offshore Equatorial Guinea while continuing subsurface studies to improve definition of multiple prospects identified on the blocks.

05.16.2024