Vaalco Energy expects a profitable 2026 from West Africa

Vaalco Energy has found a new source of production in the Etame 14H development well within the Etame Marine Block offshore Gabon following drilling and placement in an attic position, promising a lateral of 325 meters of net pay in high-quality Gamba sands with unmatched porosity and permeability

The company has reported excellent initial flow rate of approximately 4,850 gross barrels of oil per day, 2,850 bopd net to Vaalco. 

Encouraged by the initial well results from the 14H well, the rig has been mobilised to the Ebouri platform for the drilling of the EEBOM-5H development well. For this well too, the team is targeting an updip/attic position by sidetracking from the previously abandoned EEBOM-5P well. 

“We continue to see positive results from our Gabon drilling campaign. The Etame 14H development well encountered 325 meters of net pay in high-quality Gamba sands in an attic position within the Main Fault Block at Etame. We are very pleased with the initial well rates of around 4,850 gross BOPD, or 2,850 net BOPD and are excited to add this new production. We have mobilised the rig to the Ebouri platform where we are drilling a development well and plan to workover two other wells. Our goal is to continue to successfully add production and reserves with the remainder of our Gabon drilling campaign," said George Maxwell, Vaalco’s chief executive officer.

Offshore Ivory Coast, the Baobab field in CI-40 block has been brought back online for production to begin in Q2 2026. Output from the field will be generated via risers and umbilicals that are currently being reconnected to the Baobab Ivorien Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO), which is moored on location. It is ready to support production flow after a 47-day tow for refurbishment at the Dry Dock World shipyard in Dubai. Q2 2026. 

George Maxwell, Vaalco’s chief executive officer, said, “We are at a critical junction, with successes in the Gabon drilling campaign and the Baobab field returning to production, and we believe that the remainder of 2026 will be very profitable. We remain focused on execution and driving meaningful growth through our organic capital programmes that we believe will translate into value for our shareholders in 2026 and beyond,” said Maxwell.