French oil major Total has announced that it has made a ‘significant’ gas-condensate discovery on the Brulpadda prospects, located on Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin offshore South Africa
According to Total, the Brulpadda well encountered 187 feet of net gas condensate pay in the Lower Cretaceous reservoirs. The well, which was deepened to a final depth of 11,919 feet, was also ‘successful’ in the Brulpadda-deep prospect.
Kevin McLachlan, senior vice-president exploration at Total, commented, “With this discovery, Total has opened a new world-class gas and oil play and is well positioned to test several follow-on prospects on the same block.”
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) said this discovery will help open a new hydrocarbon province in South Africa, prove the presence of billions of barrels of oil equivalent in South African waters, and will undoubtedly change the course of the country’s economy and help reduce import dependency.
NJ Ayuk, executive chairman at the chamber, noted, “The oil industry hopes this will be a catalyst and encouragement for all policymakers to work on an enabling business environment for exploration and drilling activities in South Africa.”
“We believe South Africa holds the potential for many more such discoveries, and the time has come to have a meaningful conversation on local content development to the development of the industry benefits all South African workers and contractors across the value-chain and creates jobs for the communities,” he added.
The gas discovery is timely, as the South African government is currently working on new legislation separating oil and gas from traditional minerals and released last year a new Integrated Resource Plan( IRP 2018), which aims to install an additional 8,100 MW of gas- to- power capacity in South Africa by 2030.
“Oil companies want to see leadership and sound governance wherever they invest. With South Africa demonstrating a commitment to reforms and the creation of an enabling environment for business, the oil industry is confident that the country can attract the investment needed,” he concluded.
