Galp, in partnership with NAMCOR and Custos, has announced a significant discovery of light oil and gas condensate in the Mopane-2A well, located in the PEL83 licence offshore Namibia. This well is the fourth to be drilled in this licence as part of their ongoing exploration and appraisal (E&A) campaign.
Drilling of the Mopane-2A well, using Saipem's Santorini drillship, began on 2 December 2024. Analyses revealed two columns of hydrocarbons in separate reservoirs:
- AVO-3: A column of gas condensate with a thin trickle in the ideal area of the tank.
- AVO-4: A light oil column identified in a smaller reservoir.
Both reservoirs showed promising reservoir characteristics, with very good quality sands displaying excellent porosities and permeabilities. The high pressures, low fluid viscosity and lack of H2S concentration combined with minimal CO2 reinforce the commercial potential of these discoveries. In addition, as with previous wells drilled in the Mopane complex, no water contact was found, underlining the continuity of the reservoir structure.
Following this discovery, the partners plan to analyse and integrate the data acquired in order to deepen their understanding of the Mopane complex. At the same time, Galp will continue to evaluate opportunities for commercialising these new resources.
As part of the ongoing E&A campaign, the Santorini drillship is currently heading for the location of the next exploration well, Mopane-3X. This fifth well will target two overlying prospects, AVO-10 and AVO-13, with start-up scheduled for around 1 January 2025. At the same time, the joint venture has launched an exclusive 3D development seismic campaign, using high-density, high-resolution technologies, to improve the characterisation of the Mopane complex.
Galp is the operator of the licence with a majority stake of 80%, while NAMCOR and Custos each hold a 10% stake.
This discovery confirms the exceptional potential of the Mopane complex and reinforces Namibia's strategic importance as a key region for hydrocarbon exploration and development in Africa.
