The recent announcement by Custos Energy and its partners regarding the successful results from the Mopane-1A appraisal well in Namibia's Orange Basin marks a pivotal moment for the country's emerging oil and gas sector. This discovery, part of the second exploration and appraisal campaign on Petroleum Exploration License 83 (PEL 83), has identified light oil and gas-condensate in high-quality reservoir sands, reinforcing the area's potential for commercial exploitation.
The PEL 83 joint venture, which includes Galp Energia, Custos Energy, and NAMCOR, has reported that the Mopane-1A well exhibits good porosities, high permeabilities, and high pressures, alongside low oil viscosity and minimal impurities. These findings are consistent with those from the earlier Mopane-1X and Mopane-2X wells, suggesting a substantial original oil in place (OOIP) of 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The infrastructure-constrained flow rate of 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from a previous drill stem test further underscores the commercial viability of this discovery.
Knowledge Katti of Custos Energy has highlighted the significance of these results, pointing to the Mopane complex's world-class potential. Similarly, Maggy Shino from Namibia's Ministry of Mines and Energy has recognized this as a milestone for the nation's energy sector, indicating the broader economic implications of successful oil and gas development.
Future plans for the joint venture include additional drilling and a high-resolution proprietary 3D seismic campaign set to begin in December 2024. These efforts aim to further delineate the hydrocarbon resources in the Orange Basin, which is rapidly gaining attention as a key area in the global oil and gas market. The discoveries in Namibia's Orange Basin, characterized by their quality and favorable production characteristics, could play a crucial role in transforming the country's economy and energy landscape.
For more information on the PEL 83 joint venture, visit https://www.galp.com.
