CHAMWE KAIRA
Canadian oil and gas exploration company, ReconAfrica has commenced production testing operations at its Kavango West 1X (KW1X) discovery well in Namibia, marking a significant step in assessing the commercial viability of hydrocarbons in the Damara Fold Belt.
The company, together with its partners, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and BW Energy, announced that testing is now underway following the completion of preparatory work at the site.
According to ReconAfrica, the programme will test six selected intervals across the Huttenburg and Elandshoek formations, covering a total hydrocarbon-bearing section of approximately 420 metres.
The Huttenburg Formation contains an estimated 75 metres of net hydrocarbon pay within a 400-metre fractured carbonate reservoir interval, while the Elandshoek Formation includes around 560 metres of hydrocarbon-saturated fractured carbonate reservoir, with 81 metres showing hydrocarbon fluorescence and oil indications.
The company also reported the presence of oil sheen and oil bubbles at the surface in mud pits during drilling operations.
ReconAfrica president and chief executive officer Brian Reinsborough, described the testing programme as a major milestone for both the company and Namibia’s petroleum sector.
“This test is a pivotal point in unlocking the commerciality of the Damara Fold Belt and has been designed to test for hydrocarbon phase and deliverability,” he said.
The company noted that a cement bond log completed before the end of May, confirmed that production testing could proceed without additional cementing work.
Downhole perforation operations are currently being carried out with support from SLB and Halliburton following the arrival of specialised equipment at the drilling site.
ReconAfrica said minor delays were experienced in transporting testing equipment from North America due to permitting requirements, but it remains on track to release production test results by late July.
The testing programme will focus on three zones in the lower Elandshoek Formation and three zones in the shallower Huttenburg Formation.
Each test is expected to last up to 10 days. Any natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons reaching the surface during testing will be flared.
Should the production test prove successful, the KW1X well will be temporarily abandoned but retained for potential future production.
Meanwhile, ReconAfrica is advancing plans for further appraisal drilling on the Kavango discovery.
Site preparation and permitting activities are underway for the Kavango West 2A (KW2A) appraisal well, which the company aims to spud before the end of the third quarter of 2026, subject to final regulatory approvals.
ReconAfrica is an exploration and appraisal company with petroleum interests in Namibia, Angola and Botswana, and says it is committed to minimising environmental impacts while following international environmental and social standards in its operations.
