Afentra Targets January 2027 First Oil from Impala-2 Well Offshore Angola
Afentra plc has revised its offshore drilling schedule in Angola, prioritising the Impala-2 development well in Block 3/05 before returning to complete a sidetrack at the Pacassa SW discovery.
The revised programme will see the Borr Grid drilling rig move directly to Impala-2 while preparations and equipment mobilisation for the Pacassa SW sidetrack continue.
Both wells are expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2027.
Drilling at Impala-2 was scheduled to begin in mid-October 2026, with operations expected to take approximately 80 days.
Afentra is targeting first oil in January 2027, with initial gross production estimated at approximately 4,000 barrels per day.
The well design incorporates reservoir pressure and productivity data obtained during a successful intervention at Impala-1, which restored production after the well had been shut in since 2017.
The findings have helped inform the development plan for the next phase of the Impala field redevelopment.
Afentra and its joint venture partners have also agreed to fund Impala-2 directly, replacing a previously agreed carry mechanism.
The arrangement allows Afentra to participate in production revenues from first oil while benefiting from the full capital expenditure uplift available under the Block 3/05 production-sharing contract.
The partners have retained a reduced gross well cost cap of US$60 million to limit exposure to potential cost overruns.
Following completion of Impala-2, the Borr Grid rig will return to Pacassa SW to drill and complete a sidetrack designed to bypass an obstruction that restricted access to the original wellbore.
The Pacassa SW discovery encountered 136 metres of net oil pay, indicating significant oil-bearing reservoir potential.
The well requires additional work before it can be connected to the existing production infrastructure, with first oil expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Afentra is also remapping the Pacassa SW discovery using the latest well data to reassess its resource potential.
Previous estimates indicated the area could contain up to approximately 70 million barrels of oil resources. Updated estimates are expected once the assessment is complete.
Afentra Chief Executive Officer Paul McDade said the revised drilling sequence would improve operational flexibility, optimise rig utilisation and maintain progress across the Block 3/05 development programme.
He added that the company remained focused on bringing both wells into production while advancing the wider redevelopment of the offshore asset.
The revised schedule forms part of Afentra’s broader strategy to increase production and unlock additional value from its Angolan portfolio.
The company is also progressing development opportunities in other offshore blocks and assessing exploration potential in the onshore Kwanza Basin.
With Impala-2 and Pacassa SW advancing towards production, Afentra expects the programme to support near-term output growth and strengthen its position in Angola’s oil sector.
