Sintana Energy (SEI-V)
TotalEnergies reveals the scale of the gas resource it has discovered on South African offshore block 11B/12B
@JonathanGold Through the paywall: TotalEnergies is within days of starting a critical appraisal drilling campaign offshore Namibia to establish if its play-opening Venus-1 discovery holds the billions of barrels of oil and gas that many observers expect, while at the same time exploring for more hydrocarbons in this ultra-deepwater zone.
Almost exactly a year ago, on the same day Russia invaded Ukraine, the French supermajor confirmed that Venus-1X was a success, following an Upstream report that it was a major discovery with the potential to hold as much as 12 billion barrels of oil.
TotalEnergies throws half of this year's exploration budget into potential new golden block
Read more
The drillship Tungsten Explorer arrived in Walvis Bay on 19 February, according to marine intelligence provider VesselsValue, and will shortly mobilise to Block 2913B to begin the campaign in 3000 metres of water, followed by an exploration programme in adjacent Block 2912.
It will soon be joined by drillship Deepsea Mira, currently anchored in Norway, as TotalEnergies and its partners — QatarEnergy, privately owned Impact Oil & Gas and state-owned Namcor — accelerate drilling activities in the hope they can quickly decide on a viable development plan.
Impact said drilling operations will start by the end of February, targeting up to four wells, including a re-entry of Venus-1X and an investigation of a potential westerly extension of Venus, called the Nara prospect, in Block 2912.
Nara was previously known as Venus West and may be in direct communication with the Venus structure.
Article continues below the advert
However, Vantage Drilling’s Tungsten Explorer will first drill the Venus-1A appraisal well, with Odfjell Drilling’s Deepsea Mira to then carry out a drillstem test.
This probe is located 13 kilometres north of Venus-1X — an unusually large distance for an appraisal well, which indicates just how big this discovery could be.
Shell hits hydrocarbons in world’s hottest new hunting ground
Read more
On completion of this operation, Deepsea Mira will re-enter the Venus-1X discovery well — which was drilled to a depth of 6296 metres and hit at least 84 metres of high quality light oil in Cretaceous sandstones — to drill a sidetrack well and conduct another drillstem test.
“The objective of this programme is to further evaluate the Venus reservoir and deliver dynamic data, ” Impact explained.
The Tungsten Explorer will then, probably in mid-2023, drill and carry out a drillstem test on Nara-1X which, if successful, will also see an appraisal well drilled and tested.
Namibia: TotalEnergies contracts second rig for Venus appraisal campaign
Read more
Impact chief executive Siraj Ahmed said the Namibian campaign will provide “vital information that will hopefully enable the joint venture to press ahead with development”.
Phil Birch, exploration director of Impact and one of the few people who believed in the oil and gas potential of the geologically unusual Venus play, said: “This exciting and active 2023 work programme is aimed at proving the flow potential of the Venus reservoir, and to investigate a potentially material extension into the adjacent licence.
“If successful, it will result in two potentially fully appraised early production centres, one on Block 2913B and the second on Block 2912”.
TotalEnergies plans ultra-deepwater probe on massive extension of Venus
Read more
Keith Hill, chief executive of Africa Oil which owns a key stake in Impact, added: “The Venus discovery, which according to Wood Mackenzie was the world’s largest oil discovery in 2022, has opened up the Orange basin as a world-class petroleum province.
“We are the only publicly listed independent oil and gas company with an interest in Venus, ” he said, pointing out that “our material Orange basin acreage presents a very attractive opportunity for investors looking for an exposure to its potentially transformational upside”.
TotalEnergies has a 40% stake in Block 2913B, with QatarEnergy on 30%, Impact on 20% and Namcor on 10%, while their respective holdings in Block 2912 are 37.78%, 28.33%, 18.89% and 15%.
Namibian hotspot: Venus set for more drilling early 2023 as operator eyes two-rig campaign
Read more
Both blocks lie in the Orange basin immediately north of the maritime boundary with South Africa, where TotalEnergies is also a major acreage holder.
Block 2913B covers an area of some 8100 square kilometres while Block 2912 encompasses about 7900 square kilometres.
Water depths in the more westerly block range between 3000 and 3900 metres, which is pushing the technical envelope for deep-water drilling and will pose challenges for any development.
Read more
Orange basin acquisition finalised - farm-out deal close
Taking flight: Five-well drilling campaign lined up for 2023 in Namibia's Walvis basin
Hotspot: TotalEnergies eyes wildcat in South Africa block near Venus discovery
Shell within weeks of starting critical Namibia drilling campaign
Shell and TotalEnergies aim to speed up Namibia appraisal and development plans,
ceo.ca |
