A new phase of offshore oil drilling in Namibia is set to begin as a rig arrives near a Galp Energia SGPS SA discovery.
Saipem SpA’s Santorini drillship showing a destination of “Mopane,” the name of the find made by Galp, arrived at the site of the field early on Wednesday 23rd October.
At least four drilling campaigns, including wells by TotalEnergies SE and Chevron Corp., are expected to start before the end of the year after a string of significant discoveries first made in the Atlantic waters.
The Portuguese explorer declined to comment. Galp Chief Executive Officer Filipe Silva said in July that the company was preparing for the first of four new Namibia wells for the final quarter of the year.
Namibia’s discoveries are drawing increased exploration activity even as oil majors’ development budgets have become more constrained, in line with shifting priorities in the global energy transition.
Namibia’s petroleum commissioner, Maggy Shino, announced on Oct. 9 that Rhino Resources will start drilling two wells in November, followed by Chevron, which is set to begin drilling in December.
