ExxonMobil Launches New Drilling Phase at Angola’s Block 15 After License Extension to 2037
ExxonMobil is preparing to launch a new drilling campaign at Block 15 in Angola following the signing of a fresh agreement with the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 Conference and Exhibition.
Speaking in an on-stage interview at the event, Katrina Fisher, Country Manager of ExxonMobil Angola, confirmed that a drillship has already been mobilized to the block. “We are getting ready to kick off the next phase of drilling.
We have just sent a drill ship to Block 15, and we look forward to unlocking more opportunities there,” Fisher said.
The announcement follows the extension of ExxonMobil’s Block 15 license to 2037, reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to Angola. “The success of Block 15 was built on partnerships and fiscal flexibility.
We have achieved more than 100,000 bpd and made new discoveries. The license extension allows us to keep building on this success,” Fisher added.
ExxonMobil is targeting incremental production and new exploration to help Angola sustain output above one million barrels per day.
In 2024, the company announced a discovery at the Likember-01 well, the first made under Angola’s Incremental Production Initiative, demonstrating how reinvestment in mature assets can mitigate production decline.
The company is also leading frontier exploration in the Namibe Basin, where it drilled the first deepwater exploration well in 2024. “It’s an area we are still evaluating, but we continue to see potential.
While we maximize Block 15, we are equally committed to frontier opportunities. We’re here for decades to come,” Fisher emphasized.
In addition to Block 15, ExxonMobil signed an agreement in 2025 to study and evaluate the Free Areas of Blocks 17/06 and 32/21.
If successful, these studies will pave the way for concession contracts. The company is also pursuing new discoveries in Blocks 30, 44, and 45, further expanding its exploration portfolio in Angola.
Alongside its upstream operations, ExxonMobil continues to prioritize corporate social responsibility in Angola. Initiatives such as the STEM Africa Challenge and Junior MBA program focus on youth development, knowledge transfer, and capacity building. “These programs connect education, sports, and mentorship to prepare the next generation of Angolan leaders,” Fisher explained.
With new drilling at Block 15, frontier exploration in Namibe, and upcoming studies in multiple blocks, ExxonMobil is deepening its role in Angola’s energy future.
By combining investment in mature assets with frontier exploration and community development, the company is reinforcing its long-term commitment to Angola’s economy and people.
