Fossil Energy – Drilling
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 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.
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.
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.
