Exploration activities began with the drilling of A1-96/3 (Hasheem Prospect). (Image source: NOC Libya)

Eni and bp have resumed their exploration activities in Libya for the first time in the Area B (96/3) of Ghadames Basin, where onshore operations were haulted since 2014

Repsol is also preparing to restart drilling in Murzuq Basin, and OMV is set to begin operations in Sirte Basin in the coming weeks. 

Last month, the Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Evening took place in Rome with a purpose to unlock new partnership and investment opportunities, especially targetting private sector participation. 

Exploration activities in Area B (96/3) began this month, with the drilling of the first exploratory well, A1-96/3 (Hasheem Prospect) that is projected to reach a final depth of approximately 10,327 ft (3,147 m).The well is located about 35 kms from the Wafa field and approximately 650 kms from Tripoli. Several promising geological formations in the A1-96/3 well will be tested for oil and gas presence. 

Supervision by Mellitah Oil & Gas joint venture

Contracted following the Fourth Bid Round Contract of 2007, Eni operates the area in partnership with bp and the Libyan Investment Authority. The Mellitah Oil & Gas joint venture, with its extensive experience in the region, particularly in developing and managing the Wafa field, is overseeing the drilling operations and all related activities for the well.

The Mellitah venture that comprises the National Oil Corporation of Libya and Eni North Africa, is also spearheading the revamping of the Bauri Gas Utilisation project. 

The drill ship Santorini has arrived on location. (Image source: Sintana Energy)

Blocks governed by Petroleum Exploration License 83 (PEL 83), namely 2813A and 2814B, in Orange Basin Namibia has undergone a second exploration and appraisal campaign

The drill ship Santorini has arrived on location, and operations associated with the Mopane 1-A well have commenced. 

This appraisal well is the first of an up to four-well programme potentially consisting of two exploration wells and two appraisal wells. This second campaign on PEL 83 is predicated on providing additional insights into the scope and quality of the Mopane complex. 

Previously, an inaugural two-well exploration campaign that commenced in Q4 2023 resulted in multiple discoveries of significant columns of light oil in high-quality reservoir sands providing for an initial estimate of original oil in place of 10 bn boe. A drill stem test was also conducted resulting in an infrastructure constrained flow of 14,000 boed. 

World class opportunity

Initial analysis suggests the reservoirs have good porosities, high pressures and high permeabilities in large hydrocarbon columns with very low oil viscosity, and no CO2 nor H2S. The flows achieved during the well test have reached the maximum allowed limits, positioning Mopane as, potentially, an important commercial discovery.

“We look forward to the continuing progress on PEL 83, further unveiling of the potential and quality of the Mopane complex. These efforts should provide additional insights into this world class opportunity and into our broader Orange Basin portfolio located at the heart of this emerging hydrocarbon province,” said Robert Bose, CEO of Sintana.

PEL 83 is operated by a subsidiary of Galp Energia. Sintana maintains an indirect 49% interest in Custos Energy, which in turn owns a 10% working interest in PEL 83. The National Petroleum Company of Namibia (NAMCOR), also maintains a 10% working interest. This finding adds to the treasures unveiled from other licenses in the region that host Graff-1, La Rona-1,Jonker-1 and Venus-1.

Approximately 690 ft of hydrocarbons has been discovered. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Chevron Nigeria has announced a near-field oil discovery in Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 49, situated in the shallow offshore region of the Western Niger Delta

Drilled to a depth of 8,983 feet, the Mejji NW-1 well has seen approximately 690 ft of hydrocarbons within Miocene sands. This discovery encourages potential production of up to 17,000 barrels of oil per day.

Chevron operates PML 49 in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company through their joint venture, Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC-CNL JV). 

Last month, the partners concluded the conversion of five of its joint venture assets into the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 terms. 

The PIA is designed to safeguard national energy security and profitability even while ensuring investor interests.

Optimisation strategy

Speaking of the discovery, Olusoga Oduselu, general manager, policy government and public affairs at Chevron, said, "This accomplishment is consistent with CNL's intention to continue developing and growing its Nigerian resources, including the onshore and shallow water areas and supports Chevron's broader global exploration strategy to find new resources that extend the life of producing assets in existing operating areas and deliver production with shorter development cycle times."

Gross production at Dussafu during Q3 averaged approximately 27,465 bopd. (Image source: Panoro Energy)

Panoro Energy has reported progress of operations at the Dussafu Marin Permit offshore Gabon

John Hamilton, CEO of Panoro, said, “We are pleased to have safely and successfully delivered the current production drilling campaign at Dussafu, which was expanded to eight wells in order to accommodate fast-track development of the two new discoveries which were announced during May 2024. With five out of the eight wells presently onstream, in addition to the six pre-existing wells at the Tortue field, we are moving to within touching distance of the targeted gross rate of 40,000 bopd from the block. Our current focus is on fully transitioning all the new wells to conventional ESP systems and restoring production at the three shut-in wells, after which we will drill the exciting Bourdon prospect in line with our infrastructure lead exploration and appraisal strategy aimed at unlocking the substantial organic upside that exists on the block.”

Gross oil production at Dussafu during Q3 averaged approximately 27,465 bopd, the highest quarterly rate achieved since start-up of production on the block in 2018. In its half year 2024 results, the company recorded group working interest production at 4,030 bopd from Gabon. 

Following discovery in May of the Hibiscus Northern Flank, the DHIBM-7H production well has successfully been drilled and put onstream with a conventional electrical submersible pump (ESP) system in early October at a rate consistent with previous wells on the block and in line with expectations.

Completion of the DHIBM-7H well concludes the current production drilling campaign at Dussafu which has delivered eight new production wells across the Hibiscus / Ruche area and yielded two new discoveries, adding an estimated 23.1 million barrels of gross 2P reserves.

Next steps

The Borr Norve jack-up drilling rig will next undertake a workover / ESP replacement programme on certain existing wells (for which delivery of all necessary conventional ESP systems and spares has been secured). Upon conclusion of the workover programme all wells will have conventional ESP systems installed, resulting in gross production reaching the targeted 40,000 bopd level by year end.

The Bourdon prospect test well (DBM-1) will be the last rig operation under the current contract in early 2025. The Bourdon prospect has an estimated mid-case potential of 83 million barrels in place and 29 million barrels recoverable in the Gamba and Dentale formations. 

Last year, the company reported a commercial oil discovery from the Hibiscus South well (DHBSM-1).

Panoro holds a 17.5% participating interest in the Dussafu Marin Permit.