Continental Focus, International Reach

Galp Kicks Off Orange Basin Drilling Program in Namibia

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Custos Energy reports that the Mopane 2X exploration well located on Petroleum Exploration License 83 (PEL 83) in Namibia’s Orange Basin has been spud. The Mopane prospect complex is located at the southern end of PEL 83 which is operated by a subsidiary of Galp Energia (Galp) of Portugal. Each of Custos and NAMCOR own 10% working interests in PEL 83 and are carried by Galp through the exploration phase.

The Mopane exploration well is the first of two wells which are scheduled to be drilled by the semi-submersible rig Hercules under a contract that provides for two wells and optional testing. PEL 83 is located immediately north of PEL 39, home to Shell’s basin opening discoveries at Graff-1, La Rona-1 and Jonker-1. Shell continues to progress exploration and appraisal activities on its blocks with an ongoing multi-well campaign through the remainder of 2023 and throughout 2024.

“The significant prospectivity of PEL 83, together with its relatively shallower water depth, position it to be one of the most significant and profitable opportunities in the Orange Basin,” said Knowledge Katti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Custos Energy. “The ongoing activity and progress on each of our licenses demonstrate the unmatched quality of our portfolio in the heart of the Orange Basin.” he added.

“We look forward to a safe and successful campaign on PEL 83 for the JV Partners and for the people of Namibia,” said Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy.

“We are excited to test the extension of the proven Upper Cretaceous plays into PEL 83,” said Maggie Shino, Petroleum Commissioner at the Ministry of Mines and Energy. “We believe PEL 83 will continue to demonstrate the world-class scale and quality of plays in Namibia’s Orange Basin,” she added.


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