Niël Terblanché
Custos Energy (Pty) Ltd. has reported a successful second exploration and appraisal campaign in Namibia’s Orange Basin, specifically on blocks 2813A and 2814B on Tuesday.
These blocks, governed by Petroleum Exploration License 83 (PEL 83), are operated by a subsidiary of Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A., with Custos and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) each holding a 10% working interest.
The chief executive officer of Custos Energy, Knowledge Katti, announced that the PEL 83 Joint Venture partners have successfully drilled, cored, and logged the Mopane-3X well, which commenced on 2 January 2025.
Located 18 kilometers from the initial Mopane-1X well, Mopane-3X targeted two stacked prospects, AVO-10 and AVO-13, as well as a deeper sand layer in the southeastern region of the Mopane complex at an approximate water depth of 1,200 meters.
According to Katti, preliminary data from the Mopane-3X well has confirmed significant columns of light oil and gas-condensate in high-quality sandstones across the AVO-10 prospect.
Additionally, light oil columns have been identified in both the AVO-13 prospect and the deeper sand layer, also within high-quality sandstone formations.
Reservoir log measurements indicate favorable porosities, high pressures, and permeabilities.
Initial fluid samples reveal low oil viscosity with minimal COâ‚‚ and Hâ‚‚S concentrations; these samples have been sent for laboratory analysis.
The higher-than-anticipated pressures and initial findings at Mopane-3X suggest expanded exploration and appraisal opportunities in the southeastern sector of the Mopane complex.
All acquired data will be integrated into the existing reservoir model to inform future activities.
The proprietary 3D seismic acquisition campaign remains on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2025, with subsequent data processing to follow.
“These additional discoveries in an entirely new section of Mopane further demonstrate the scale and quality of the complex. An emerging clarity on the multi-phase potential of Mopane is underpinned by this world-class asset. We congratulate our Joint Venture partners on another safe and successful outing. We are uniquely positioned at the heart of this hydrocarbon province,” Katti said.
Custos Energy, a Namibian independent oil and gas exploration company founded over a decade ago by Katti, focuses on attracting investment and expertise to Namibia’s offshore industry.
The company continues to develop its portfolio in collaboration with international partners for the benefit of all Namibians.
Through the Knowledge Foundation, Custos is committed to fostering a sustainable future, particularly by supporting youth initiatives and addressing community interests in regions where they operate.
The Orange Basin has recently garnered significant attention as a promising oil and gas region.
Notably, in early 2022, Shell announced the discovery of light oil and associated natural gas in the Graff-1X exploration well within Petroleum Exploration License 39 (PEL 39) in the deepwater Orange Basin.
This discovery, located approximately 270 kilometers from the coastline, marked a pivotal moment in Namibia’s exploration history.
Similarly, in mid-2023, Galp Energia reported the Mopane oil discovery in PEL 83, situated north of Shell’s PEL 39.
These successive discoveries have positioned the Orange Basin as one of the world’s most promising areas for oil exploration.
Despite a history of exploration drilling offshore Namibia dating back to the 1960s, significant commercial discoveries remained elusive until these recent developments.
The Kudu gas field, discovered in 1974 by Chevron, was the only notable find for decades, with contingent recoverable gas resources estimated at 1.3 trillion cubic feet.
The recent string of successful explorations, including Custos Energy’s latest findings, introduced a transformative era in Namibia’s energy sector, highlighting the vast potential of the Orange Basin as a world-class hydrocarbon province.
