Exploration

Bonga North is a significant deepwater project for Shell. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has reached final investment decision (FID) on Bonga North offshore Nigeria

A significant deepwater project for Shell's integrated gas and upstream business, Bonga North is said to hold approximately 300 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company's plan involves drilling, completing and starting up 16 wells (8 production and 8 water injection wells), besides modifying the existing Bonga Main FPSO and the installation of new subsea hardware tied back to the FPSO. This extensive strategy will potentially help realise a production target of 110,000 bopd by the end of the decade. 

In February, Shell achieved well completion in Bonga North West Field with Optime Subsea's remotely operated control systems (ROCS). 

Maintaining production

“This is another significant investment, which will help us to maintain stable liquids production from our advantaged upstream portfolio,” said Zoe Yujnovich, integrated gas and upstream director, Shell, on the Bonga North development.

The company had sold its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, SPDC, in the beginning of this year, for a more concentrated approach to its integrated gas and upstream sector. 

Block 2813B’s license covers an area of 5,433 kms. (Image source: Sintana Energy)

Following increased ownership in the Venus discovery, QatarEnergy has now acquired a 27.5% working interest in petroleum exploration license 90 (PEL 90) within Block 2813B offshore Namibia 

This reshuffles the license ownership that includes Chevron-subsidiary Harmattan Energy Limited (52.5%) as operator, followed by QatarEnergy (27.5%), National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia- NAMCOR (10%) and Custos-subsidiary Trago Energy (10%). Sintana Energy maintains a 49% indirect interest in Custos.

Previously, QatarEnergy entered into an agreement with TotalEnergies to acquire an additional 5.25% interest in block 2913B (PEL 56) and an additional 4.695% interest in block 2912 (PEL 91).

Commencing initial drilling

Around 200 kms offshore Namibia’s Orange Basin, Block 2813B’s license covers an area of 5,433 kms in a water depth of 2,400 to 3,300 m.

Northern Ocean’s semisubmersible drilling rig Deepsea Bollsta will be mobilised to PEL 90 to drill the Kapana-1X well this month.

“The entry of QatarEnergy into PEL 90 provides further evidence of the quality and potential of our portfolio at the heart of the Orange Basin,” said Robert Bose, CEO of Sintana Energy. “We look forward to the initial drilling campaign on PEL 90 to commence over the next few weeks.” 

Namibia is looking towards world-class drilling campaigns as companies such as Baker Hughes and Halliburton set up shop in the country. 

The rig will also be utilised for workovers. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

As part of its 2025-26 programme in Gabon, VAALCO Energy is looking to deploy Borr Jack-Up XIV Inc for the drilling of multiple development wells and appraisal/exploration wells

Secured by a contract signed with Borr Drilling Limited, the rig will also be utilised for workovers, including the scope of drilling additional wells. Borr's Norve rig already operational at Panoro Energy's Dussafu Marin Permit for workover and ESP replacement activities will help boost gross production to 40,000 bopd by year end.

Optimisation plans

George Maxwell, Vaalco’s CEO said, "We are excited about the major projects planned for 2025 that are expected to deliver a step-change in organic growth across our portfolio in the coming years. In Gabon, we continue to work with our joint owners at Etame on our shared goal of executing another successful drilling campaign designed to enhance production and add reserves. We have signed a contract with Borr that we believe allows us the flexibility to optimise our drilling and workover plans offshore Gabon.

“We anticipate the programme to begin in mid-2025 with the sequencing and exact number of wells yet to be finalised. We are planning on multiple wells in the Etame field, multiple wells at our SEENT platform and a redrill and several workovers in the Ebouri field to access production and reserves that were previously shut in and removed from proved reserves due to H2S. Over the past three years, we have delivered on our focused strategy and believe we will continue to do so with the organic growth programmes across our diversified portfolio over the coming years.” 

Vaalco had reported strong progress for 2024. 

The policy will ensure local collaboration. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The National Upstream Local Content Policy now stands official post approval by the government of Namibia 

As Namibia continues to give international-scale discoveries since the last few years, this new policy will be put into place to navigate the high-risk investment zone it is turning into. The region's rapid upstream growth have also triggered its digital advancement with companies such as Baker Hughes and Halliburton entering the market. 

Prioritising local content

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the policy will serve in alignment with the country's broader development frameworks, such as the National Development Plan, Harambee Prosperity Plan and Vision 2030, to realise the goal of an industrialised economy that is primarily led by local expertise and resources. 

While ensuring regulatory flexibility for investors, the new policy also mandates operators to submit extensive 'Local Content Plans' in their proposal for exploration and production license acquisition. This implies clarifying the operators' collaboration plans with indigenous workforces and services.