The PEL 85 Joint Venture has completed drilling operations at Block 2914 in Namibia’s offshore Orange Basin.
The joint venture drilled the Capricornus-1A appraisal well in the eastern section of the Capricornus fairway, an area identified through the earlier Capricornus-1X discovery. Using the Saipem 12000 drillship, the team drilled in water depths of 1,285 meters and reached a total measured depth of 4,818 meters.
The well encountered a gross reservoir interval measuring 46 meters. The team recovered a representative core from the main reservoir section and collected a full set of wireline logs and formation evaluation data.
Initial analysis of the downhole pressure data confirmed an oil-bearing sandstone reservoir that is in pressure communication with the reservoir identified at the Capricornus-1X well. The findings further support reservoir continuity across the Capricornus accumulation and provide valuable data for the ongoing appraisal of the discovery.
The joint venture will combine the core samples, pressure data, and wireline information from Capricornus-1A with data collected from earlier wells across PEL 85 to support ongoing appraisal work and future exploration activities.
Rhino Resources Namibia Chief Executive Officer Travis Smithard said the Capricornus-1A well had provided valuable information that improves the company’s understanding of the Capricornus reservoir system. He said confirming pressure communication with Capricornus-1X supports the continuity of the reservoir across the accumulation and gives the company greater confidence as it continues appraising the discovery.
Smithard added that the well also revealed important information about deeper geological intervals that Capricornus-1X did not reach. He said the findings have improved the company’s understanding of how subsurface structures shape the play fairways across the license area.
He said the latest results, together with the extensive datasets gathered from previous discoveries, offer further insight into Rhino’s section of the Orange Basin. He added that the information will guide the next phase of appraisal drilling at the Capricornus accumulation and future exploration across PEL 85.
source: https:oilreviewafrica.com
African Energy Council