Harmattan Energy, an indirect subsidiary of Chevron, recently drilled the Kapana 1-X exploration well in Namibia’s Orange Basin, but the well did not yield commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.
Despite this, the operation provided valuable geological insights, enhancing confidence in future exploration efforts in the region.
Chevron had previously obtained an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, enabling it to spud up to ten wells in the country over the next three years, including five exploration and five appraisal wells.
As part of this program, Chevron booked the Northern Ocean rig for the Kapana 1-X well, scheduled for drilling in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The Odfjell Drilling-managed Deepsea Bollsta semi-submersible rig, which previously worked with Shell in Namibia, was chosen to conduct the operation.
The rig had just completed a short-term assignment off the coast of Ghana and was scheduled for a two-year campaign with Equinor in Norway.
The Deepsea Bollsta rig, a sixth-generation unit designed for ultra-deepwater operations, reached total depth at the Kapana 1-X well 25% ahead of schedule.
However, despite the expedited drilling, no commercial hydrocarbons were discovered. Chevron noted that the drilling campaign provided essential data on the basin’s geology, contributing to greater confidence in future exploration on the PEL 90 block.
Chevron shared the results with its partner, Trago Energy, a subsidiary of Custos Energy, in which Sintana Energy holds a 49% indirect interest.
Robert Bose, CEO of Sintana, expressed optimism about future opportunities in the Orange Basin, emphasizing the company’s strong position in PEL 90 and PEL 83.
In December 2024, QatarEnergy announced its plans to acquire a 27.5% working interest in Block 2813B, located approximately 70 kilometers north of TotalEnergies’ Venus discovery.
Custos Energy’s Chairman, Knowledge Katti, expressed confidence that the geological insights from the Kapana 1-X well would support continued progress in Namibia’s Orange Basin, which has become a hotspot for hydrocarbon exploration.
Chevron also made strategic moves in PEL 82 last year, acquiring an 80% working interest and operatorship, while NAMCOR and Custos Energy retain a 10% carried interest each. Sintana Energy holds an indirect 49% interest in Custos.
Chevron’s drilling update comes amid Shell’s recent write-down of US$400 million due to technical and geological challenges encountered at PEL 39.
Despite this, Shell, along with its partners QatarEnergy and NAMCOR, intends to explore further commercial opportunities in the basin.
Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy maintains that the country’s offshore Orange Basin holds significant potential, as evidenced by TotalEnergies’ successful appraisal activities in PEL 56.
Namibia has emerged as a key player in hydrocarbon exploration, attracting numerous companies to explore and develop its vast oil resources.
Current activities in the basin include drilling projects by Rhino Resources and Azule Energy at PEL 85, as well as Petrobras’ search for farm-in opportunities. Recent discoveries continue to highlight the significant hydrocarbon potential of the region.
