Reconnaissance Energy Africa has encountered over 50 metres of net reservoir in the Naingopo exploration within the Damara Fold under PEL 73.
Reconnaissance Africa holds a 70% working interest in PEL 73 and is the concession operator.
Partners are BW Energy Limited, with a 20% working interest and Namcor, with a 10% working interest.
The over 50 metres of the net reservoir was encountered, derived from log analysis and indications of oil, which will be further confirmed from sidewall cores.
The Canadian company says there are indications of oil observed and that there will be accelerated follow-on drilling in the Damara Fold Belt at Prospect 1 ahead of Kambundu, expected to spud in July 2025.
The company says third-party service providers are analysing sidewall cores, isotopes, cuttings, and fluid samples.
Additionally, the Vertical Seismic Profile processing and the structural and stratigraphic interpretations from the formation image logs are being finalised.
In addition to the plan to move next to Prospect I in the Damara Fold Belt, the company is advancing permitting for the planned 3D seismic acquisition program, which is expected to include both Rift Basin and Damara Fold Belt locations and will be conducted by vibroseis.
The 3D seismic acquisition will be completed in the second half of 2025.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa CEO Brian Rainsborough says the results of the Naingopo well open the play and demonstrate a working petroleum system within the Damara Fold Belt.
Reinsborough further says the importance of finding over 50 metres of net reservoir with indications of oil in this well is significant.
“The primary objective in the Otavi above the main fault was not penetrated due to seismic uncertainties, however, the Otavi was penetrated at predicted depth below the main fault, which contained evidence of oil. Further drilling is planned to delineate the full extent of the Damara Fold Belt play,” Reinsborough says.
According to Reinsborough, multiple indications of oil were encountered in the Naingopo well, and the company plans to continue to analyse all fluid and rock samples, which may take several months.
“Based on our technical learnings from the Naingopo well results, we have further derisked Prospect I and plan to drill this prospect ahead of Kambundu,” Reinsborough says.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa senior president of exploration Chris Sembritzky says finding the presence of oil in the Otavi and reservoir at these depths is critical for the opening of the Damara Fold Belt play.
Sembritzky says the Naingopo well was invaluable for unlocking an understanding of the play and further derisking the petroleum system elements and specific prospects.
“We may return to Naingopo for further appraisal drilling to fully test the structure’s extent,” he says, adding, “With the acquisition and processing of the Vertical Seismic Profile, we feel confident that any uncertainty with structure has been eliminated with respect to Prospect I.
“We are excited to move to our next prospect as we seek to unlock the significant resource potential of the Damara Fold Belt,” Sembritzky says.
The Naingopo well reached a total depth of 4,184 metres on November 26, 2024.
The well proved the occurrence of both the Mulden and Otavi stratigraphy.
The well encountered 52 metres of net reservoir in the Otavi Group, with the Mulden reservoirs being tighter than expected.
