French energy group TotalEnergies has embarked on a new phase of exploration offshore Namibia with the drilling of the first of two wells planned in the country's oil and gas blocks. On 3 February 2025, the semi-submersible drilling rig Deepsea Mira a commencé les opérations sur le puits d’exploration Marula-1X, situé dans la partie sud du bloc 2913B.
TotalEnergies, opérateur du bloc 2913B avec une participation de 50,5 %, est accompagné de Qatar Energy (30 %), d’Africa Oil’s Impact Oil and Gas (9,5 %) et de la société nationale namibienne NAMCOR (10 %).
The partners have indicated that the Marula-1X well targets sandstones of Albian age, located in the Marula cone complex. This could pave the way for further exploration opportunities in the southern part of the block, an area considered to be a key point in the Orange Basin, where the prolific Kudu source rock is located.
Meanwhile, Impact Oil and Gas has confirmed the completion of drilling and testing operations on the Tamboti-1X well, also located on Block 2913B. Although the well encountered 85 metres of black oil in an Upper Cretaceous sandstone reservoir, the quality of the oil is considered inferior. Analysis of data from drill stem tests (DSTs), logs and core samples is underway to assess the commercial potential of the site.
The joint venture's ambitions don't stop there. By the end of 2025, the Olympe-1X exploration well is scheduled to be drilled on Block 2912. This well will target the Albian sands within a promising structural closure.
In parallel with its exploration efforts, the joint venture is actively pursuing the development of the Venus field, to be discovered in 2022, in the Orange Basin. Since this discovery, three other wells have been successfully drilled and four drill stem tests have been carried out with positive results.
The Venus field, considered to be the first development zone on Block 2913B, is expected to produce up to 150,000 barrels of oil a day. A final investment decision is expected by the end of the first half of 2026.
Roger Tucker, Chief Executive Officer of Africa Oil, expressed optimism about the future of the Venus project and the ongoing exploration programme: "The Venus project is progressing well and we are very encouraged by the operator's public statements on the commercialisation and quality of the field. There is also an exciting exploration programme with Marula-1X operations underway and the plan to start drilling the Olympe-1X well by the end of 2025."
Tucker also pointed out that Impact Oil and Gas' recent strategic initiatives have enabled the company to preserve the value of its assets without any upfront costs. TotalEnergies is responsible for all exploration and development expenditure on blocks 2913B and 2912 until first commercial production from the Venus field.
With these advances, TotalEnergies and its partners are strengthening Namibia's position as a key emerging player in the global oil and gas sector. The results of the next drilling campaigns will be decisive in assessing the country's true energy potential and structuring its economic development around these promising natural resources.