Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino says Galp has collected 3,500 km2 of high-density seismic data from the Mopane discovery to refine volume estimates and advance the project toward the final investment decision.
Shino said this during a webinar hosted by the African Energy Chamber, the mines ministry, and Woody Mackenzie.
She also said Shell and its partners, QatarEnergy (45% participating interest) and Namcor (10%), are analysing data from the nine wells on the PEL 39 discovery to determine the next steps.
Shell announced on January 9, 2024, that it had written off US$400 million on PEL 39 in the Orange Basin.
However, Shino said the move also involved designing a pathway to development.
Namibia expects to see seven wells drilled this year, among them BW Energy’s Kharas prospect within the Kudu license.
Shino said BW Energy has identified new targets with upside potential for gas and oil within the central area, with two wells planned by year-end.
According to Shino, Namibia is operating in an open licensing regime and will be receiving applications shortly.
She added that available acreage spans deepwater, ultra-deepwater, and shallow-water environments.
“We are offering a sustainable operating environment, ensuring all discoveries are in a race to first oil while making a lasting impact on the local economy,” she said.
African Energy Chamber Senior Vice President Verner Ayukegba said the big questions now revolve around sub-surface conditions, gas content, and how best to commercialize these discoveries.
Wood Mackenzie Research Director for Sub-Saharan Africa Upstream Ian Thom said Namibia has 220,000 square kilometres of offshore license acreage.
“With just over 20 exploration and appraisal wells drilled, this area is still hugely underexplored.
