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The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) has announced significant updates on offshore exploration, appraisal, and development activities in the Orange Basin, one of the world’s most promising oil and gas regions. These developments span several blocks, with joint ventures and operators advancing exploration and appraisal campaigns to unlock the basin’s hydrocarbon potential.
In its latest update, the company reports thatIn Block 2913B (petroleum exploration licence – PEL 56) – where TotalEnergies is 50.5 percent, Operator, QatarEnergy at 30percent Impact Oil and Gas Namibia having 9.5 percent and NAMCOR 10 percent as joint venture partners (JV) are currently progressing with extensive post well studies of the cores, logging data and fluid samples acquired from the Venus wells and will continue through 2025. The JV is now progressing with fast-tracking the development studies of a potential Venus development.
In addition, the Tamboti-1X exploration well spudding began in October 2024, with drilling and technical evaluations ongoing to support further exploration and appraisal activities.
And in Block 2813A (PEL 83) Galp (80 percent, Operator), NAMCOR (10 percent), and Custos Energy Ltd (10 percent) have successfully drilled, cored, and logged the Mopane-1A appraisal well (Well #3) which spud on 23rd of October 2024 and completed on 28th November 2024. Mopane 1A well encountered light oil and gas-condensate in high-quality reservoir-bearing sands, once again indicating good porosities, high permeabilities, and high pressures, as well as low oil viscosity characteristics with minimum CO2 and no H2S concentrations.
Together with the Mopane-1X (Well #1) and Mopane-2X (Well #2) findings, these appraisal wells confirm the extension and quality of AVO-1. Therefore, Galp and its partners will continue to analyze and integrate all newly acquired data. Additionally, the Mopane 2A well (Well #4) in PEL83, which spudded on 2nd December 2024 encountered gas-condensate in AVO-3 and hydrocarbon liquids in AVO-4. As part of the ongoing exploration and appraisal campaign in the wider Mopane area, the drillship has now spudded the Mopane-3X exploration well location (Well #5) on the 2nd of January 2025 and drilling operations are ongoing. In parallel, the JV is conducting a high-density and high-resolution proprietary 3D development seismic campaign over the Mopane complex.
Furthermore, Chevron Namibia Exploration Ltd (80 percent operator), NAMCOR (10 percent), and TRAGO (10 percent) completed drilling the exploration well Kapana-1X in the frontier basin of the Orange Basin in early January 2025. While operations reached total depth ahead of plan, the well did not find commercial hydrocarbons. The operations, however, did provide valuable information on important aspects of the basin and our effective and efficient execution increased our confidence in our future program on PEL 90. The Joint Venture will incorporate the well results and anticipate future exploration activity in Namibia.
Drilling activities for the Sagittarius-1X exploration well, the first in a multi-well program, are underway in Block 2914A (PEL 85). The joint venture partners—Rhino Resources (42.5 percent, operator), Azule Energy (42.5 percent), NAMCOR (10 percent), and Korres ( five percent)—spudded the well on December 18, 2024, using the Noble Venturer Drillship. Completion is expected within 45 days.
The Kudu gas-to-power project, Block 2814, PL003, spearheaded by BW Kudu Ltd (95 percent, operator) and NAMCOR ( five percent, with an additional five percent back-in right), is positioned as a national strategic initiative to address Namibia’s energy needs and support neighboring countries. The joint venture is on track to submit the field development plan to the Ministry of Mines and Energy by Q2 2025 and is preparing for an appraisal drilling campaign.
FinallyNamcor announced that Block 2913A & 2914B (PEL 39) Shell Namibia (45 percent, Operator), QatarEnergy (45 percent), and NAMCOR (10 percent) as joint venture partners are currently progressing with extensive post-well studies of the cores and fluid samples acquired from the Jonker, Enigma and Graff wells to improve the understanding of the reservoirs and expand that knowledge to other potential opportunities on the block.
These studies will continue through 2025. NAMCOR as custodian of Namibia’s hydrocarbon exploration data is conducting inhouse Geological, Geophysical, and Engineering studies to enhance subsurface knowledge on the hydrocarbon prospectivity offshore and onshore Namibia to provide such information to potential investors. Additionally, these studies allow NAMCOR to continue safeguarding its interest in the Petroleum Exploration Licenses on behalf of the Namibian Government. Furthermore, following the recent light oil discoveries offshore Namibia’s Orange Basin, NAMCOR has seen increasing interest from potential Upstream Oil and Gas investors.
The Orange Basin has solidified its position as a global hydrocarbon hotspot, with NAMCOR and its partners driving progress across multiple blocks. From promising appraisal results at Venus and Mopane to the strategic development of the Kudu gas-to-power project, Namibia’s oil and gas sector is poised for continued growth and investment.
