BW Energy has announced the completion of drilling operations on the Kharas-1 appraisal well in the Kudu licence area offshore Namibia, confirming the presence of liquid hydrocarbons in the block for the first time.
The well, drilled to a total depth of 5,100 metres, intersected several reservoir intervals and has now been plugged and abandoned in accordance with the planned programme.
Kharas-1 was designed to test multiple targets through a single wellbore and to gather geological and reservoir data that would guide future appraisal work.
According to the company, shallow turbidite reservoirs were encountered during drilling, with dry-gas shows detected in several intervals. Reservoir properties from these sections, together with the data from acquired whole core samples, are currently being analysed.
In the deeper part of the well, BW Energy confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons in a fractured volcaniclastic reservoir, signalling a working petroleum system that includes condensate and potentially light oil.
Further laboratory analysis is underway to establish the size, characteristics and commercial potential of the liquid hydrocarbon system.
“Kharas-1 achieved its technical objective of testing multiple targets within a single penetration and delivered valuable geological, geochemical and petrophysical data.
The results also confirm, for the first time, the presence of liquid hydrocarbons within the Kudu block and contribute to our understanding of the broader petroleum system.
The reservoir complexity necessitates further appraisal to assess its potential. Our forward programme will focus on further high-value targets based on the presence of liquid hydrocarbons, as well as gas and the learnings from Kharas-1A,” CEO Carl Arnet said.
The findings mark a significant step in BW Energy’s re-evaluation of the historic Kudu gas field and its broader potential, which until now has been largely defined by deep-lying gas accumulations.
The company will use the Kharas-1 results to refine its appraisal strategy as it considers both gas and liquid hydrocarbon targets in future drilling.
