Portuguese multinational energy corporation Galp could be nearing a hydrocarbon discovery at its Mopane-1X exploration well in Namibia’s Orange Basin, according to a company report issued on Monday.
Galp currently holds two exploration licenses in Namibia’s offshore: PEL 82 in the Walvis Basin and PEL 83 in the Orange Basin.
Last May, the company secured the Hercules semi-submersible rig for a two-well contract plus optional well testing in PEL 83, with drilling starting last November.
“The first well, Mopane-1X, indicates preliminary signs of hydrocarbon presence,” read a statement from the company.
“Drilling and data acquisition campaigns are underway, making any conclusion premature before operations are completed and results assessed.”
If successful, the Mopane-1X well would represent the sixth discovery in Namibia in less than 24 months, following hydrocarbon discoveries by TotalEnergies in PEL 56 and Shell in PEL 39.