VAALCO Brings New Gas-Supply Well Online Offshore Gabon to Cut Diesel Costs and Boost Field Efficiency
VAALCO Energy has successfully drilled, completed and brought the ETBNM-3 gas-supply well into production offshore Gabon, strengthening the company’s operations at the Etame Marin block.
The well, located on the North Tchibala structure, targets the Dentale D-15 reservoir and delivered results above pre-drill expectations.
It encountered strong porosity and permeability, with more than 10 metres of net reservoir pay.
The new well is not expected to directly increase oil sales. Instead, it will provide sufficient natural gas to support field operations, lifting activities and power generation, reducing VAALCO’s reliance on costly diesel transported offshore.
The shift to locally produced gas is expected to lower operating costs, improve the efficiency of the offshore facilities and potentially increase production uptime across the field.
VAALCO is also evaluating shallower intervals encountered during drilling in the D-9 and D-12 zones, which appear to contain wet gas to light oil pay and could offer additional development opportunities.
Following completion of ETBNM-3, the drilling rig was moved to another slot on the Southeast Etame North Tchibala (SEENT) platform to begin work on the ETSEM-3PH pilot hole and development well.
The well will assess the oil-water contact and the potential of deeper Dentale formations before a planned horizontal producer targeting the Gamba sands.
The latest activity forms part of VAALCO’s broader drilling campaign in Gabon, where the company is seeking to increase production, expand reserves and maximise the value of its existing offshore infrastructure.
The successful gas well also demonstrates how additional gas resources can improve the economics of mature offshore fields by replacing expensive imported fuel and supporting more reliable operations.
