Reconnaissance Energy Africa says production testing at its Kavango West 1X discovery well in Namibia is expected to run through to the end of June, as the company moves to determine the commercial potential of the find.
The Canadian oil and gas firm said on 14 April 2026 that testing of six hydrocarbon-bearing zones, covering about 420 metres of saturated section across the Elandshoek and Huttenburg formations, is set to begin between early and mid-May.
ReconAfrica chief executive Brian Reinsborough said 2025 was another transformational year for ReconAfrica as they progressed all aspects of our strategic goals.
“We completed our farm down transaction with BW Energy Ltd. which was a significant milestone for the company. We made the strategic move to broaden our portfolio by entering the shallow waters of Gabon by signing the Ngulu PSC, which adds another discovery to our inventory and high potential exploration acreage.
“We entered Angola by signing the MOU to ensure we captured significant running room in the Damara Fold Belt in advance of drilling the Kavango discovery. And finally, we made a significant play opening discovery at the Kavango West 1X well,” Reinsborough said.
Each zone, ranging from 45 to 75 metres thick, will be tested sequentially, with individual tests expected to last up to 10 days to assess the hydrocarbon phase and deliverability, the company said.
ReconAfrica has already installed a five-inch production liner in the well, enabling isolation and testing of the identified zones as part of the programme, it added.
The Kavango West 1X well, drilled in Namibia’s Kavango Basin, is the company’s latest discovery, with earlier logging indicating hydrocarbon presence in multiple formations.
Alongside testing, the company said it is preparing a follow-up appraisal, well located about 3 to 4 kilometres southeast of the discovery.
A successful appraisal well would allow the company to book reserves and move toward a final investment decision, according to ReconAfrica.
The Namibia update forms part of the company’s 2025 operational results, which saw it complete a farm-in deal with BW Energy on Petroleum Exploration Licence 073.
Under the agreement, ReconAfrica remains operator with a 70% working interest, while BW Energy holds 20% and NAMCOR retains a 10% carried interest, the company said.
The company also secured a one-year extension of the PEL 073 exploration period to January 2027, providing additional time to advance exploration and appraisal activities.
ReconAfrica said the outcome of the ongoing testing programme will be critical in determining the scale and commercial viability of its Namibian assets as it progresses toward potential development.
