The French company Total Energy is preparing to launch a multi-well drilling program off the coast of Namibia, to enhance its oil ambitions in the country, after discovering the “Venus-1X” well early last year (2022).
The British company, Impact Oil & Gas, one of Total’s partners in the offshore area of Namibia, announced that the drilling program will begin before the end of February, targeting up to 4 wells.
This will include the re-entry of the Venus-1-X exploration well, in Block 2913B, to evaluate the Venus discovery and verify the potential western extension of the discovery, the Nara well in Block 2912, according to a press release seen by the specialist energy platform.
The Venus 1-X discovery is a world-class light oil and associated gas field located in the Orange Basin, 290 kilometers off the coast of southern Namibia, at a water depth of about 3,000 metres.
The well was drilled to a total depth of 6,296 meters by the drilling vessel Maersk Voyager, and encountered a reservoir of high-quality sandstone bearing light oil from the Lower Cretaceous period.
Total Energy drilling program
Under the 2023 drilling programme, Total Energy will first drill the Venus-1A well, in Block 2913B, using the Tungsten Explorer drillship; To be the first evaluation well for the discovery of Venus.
This will be followed by productivity testing while drilling using the Dipsi Mira semi-submersible drilling rig.
The Venus-1-A well is located about 13 kilometers north of the Venus-1-X exploration well, according to IMPACT, in its statement.
After the completion of the TWT of the Venus-1A well, Total Energy will reenter the Venus-1X exploration well, followed by drilling a lateral track using Dipsy Mira for a second TWIT.
IMPACT holds a 20% interest in Block 2913 B, while it is operated by Total Energy which owns 40%, Qatar Energy 30% and the National Oil Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) 10%.
Potential oil potential in Namibia
British company Impact clarified – in its statement – that Block 2912 may contain a “high material western extension” of the Venus field.
Therefore, Impact said: “The operations conducted by Total Energy during 2023, on behalf of the joint venture, are designed to explore this potential extension of the Venus accretion in Block 2912, test it if successful, and provide an understanding of the structure and quality of the reservoir.”
Total Energy will start drilling operations in Block 2912 during the middle of 2023.
The French oil company will then use the Nara-1X drillship Tungsten Explorer, an exploration well in block 2912, to drill the well and test the potential flow.
If the Nara-1X proves successful, the Nara-1A appraisal well in Block 2912 could be drilled and flow tested, Impact said.
Impact owns 18.89% of Block 2912, as it also shares with Total Energy – the operator – a 37.78% stake, Qatar Energy 28.33%, and Namcore 15%.
Significance of Namibia’s drilling programme
IMPACT CEO Siraj Ahmed commented: “Following the turnaround of 2022 for the company, we are excited to see both Tungsten Explorer and Deepsea Mira embark on this comprehensive drilling programme, designed to accelerate the evaluation of the Venus field and drill the first exploration well in our neighboring license, Murabaa. 2912″.
He stressed that this program “will provide vital information that we hope will enable the joint venture to move forward with development.”
“The exciting and active program of work for 2023 aims to demonstrate the outflow potential of the Venus Reservoir and investigate the possibility of physical expansion of the adjacent license,” said Impact Exploration Director Phil Birch.
“If successful, it will result in two potentially fully evaluated early production centers, one in Block 2913B and the other in Block 2912,” he added.
Oil production in Namibia
In a related context, Namibia appears to be the latest African country located on the Atlantic Ocean, to start producing oil, thanks to the discoveries of Total Energy and Shell, the two worlds.
The Minister of Mines and Energy in Namibia, Tom Alwindo, revealed – earlier – the availability of commercial quantities in the discoveries of the two companies in the country, but neither the ministry nor the two companies disclosed the details of those quantities.
On the sidelines of a press conference on oil in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, the minister said: “Shell and Total are still reticent about the quantities of oil available with their discoveries in the country, but they talked about commercial quantities that exceed billions of barrels.”
He pointed out that the production of Shell and Total in the new discoveries may begin within 4 years, instead of 6 years, as announced by the two companies, but a final decision has not yet been reached.
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