Oil major Shell is reported to have made a fourth successive discovery offshore Namibia, according to Upstream, after hitting pay dirt with a just-completed exploration probe in the Orange Basin.
This comes after the oil company announced a light oil discovery in the Jonker-1X deepwater exploration well in the PEL-39 exploration license, located 270 km offshore Namibia, back in March of this year.
The company has now begun drilling a fifth exploration probe, targeting a major prospect located some distance north of its quartet of discoveries in Block 2913A.
Last year, Shell opened up what is now one of the world’s most exciting hydrocarbon plays with its Graaf-1X oil discovery, and quickly followed up with a successful probe called La Rona-1X.
It is also reported that Shell completed a very promising well test on Graaf-1X, after which the semi-submersible rig Deepsea Bollsta spudded the Lesedi-1X probe.
“As part of our multi-well campaign in Namibia, we have safely and successfully concluded drilling our fourth exploration well, Lesedi-1X. The data we have gathered so far confirms the presence of hydrocarbons, and further evaluation is required to determine the development potential,” said a Shell spokesperson to Upstream.
The probe was spudded in late May and recently completed.
The Deepsea Bollsta has now begun drilling the Cullinan-1X probe, located approximately 60 kilometers north of Lesedi, close to the border with the Galp-operated block.
Data from marine intelligence provider VesselsValue indicates that Shell’s fifth exploration well spudded over this past weekend.
Shell and QatarEnergy both hold 45% stakes in Block 2913A and adjacent 2914B, with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) holding a 10% stake.
Shell Namibia Upstream B.V has entered into a N$1.7 billion contract extension with Northern Ocean for continued work in the country using the Deepsea Bollsta.
The Shell deal, which runs from December 2023 to June 2024, includes an additional option for a six-month extension at a cost of N$1.6 billion.-The Brief/Upstream
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