(3 minutes read)
The temperature is up again in Namibia’s Orange basin, the world’s hottest new hydrocarbon hunting ground. Shell reportedly found hydrocarbons in the Jonker-1 well which it began drilling in December to check for a possible eastern extension of Total’s Venus find.
The temperature is up again in Namibia’s Orange basin, the world’s hottest new hydrocarbon hunting ground. Shell reportedly found hydrocarbons in the Jonker-1 well which it began drilling in December to check for a possible eastern extension of Total’s Venus find. Northern Ocean’s semi-submersible rig Deepsea Bollsta began drilling the high-profile well in Block 2913A in mid-December.
Hydrocarbons are the main components of crude oil and natural gas. The new finding is said to be a different geological play than the Upper Cretaceous light oil discoveries made by Shell’s Graff-1 and La Rona-1 exploration wells last year. However, this may require a unitization agreement with Total. Shell chartered the semi-submersible Deepsea Bollsta on a 12-month contract valued at N$2.1 billion, with an option to extend the deal for a further six months.
The local unit of Shell operates PEL 0039 with a 45% working interest, together with Qatar Energy (45%) and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (10%). Appraisal work reportedly suggests that the gas-to-oil ratio in the Orange Basin’s waters is lower than first thought, which could enable both Total and Shell to opt for an early oil production system.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/namibian-parliament-endorses-the-controversial-oil-exploration/
https://trendsnafrica.com/reconafrica-strikes-massive-oil-field-in-northern-namibia/
https://trendsnafrica.com/namibia-strategize-the-become-an-oil-exporting-country/
In April 2022, Shell made a second Orange Basin discovery in the La Rona-1 prospect in PEL 0039, where the well-confirmed hydrocarbon pays at multiple levels. Marc Gerrits, Shell’s Executive Vice President of Exploration, said that the safe and successful execution of these back-to-back exploration wells in a short timeframe is a testament to the strong performance of this partnership. She then stated that both the Graff-1 and the La Rona-1 exploration wells concluded safely and concluded that Shell’s commitment to work at pace to determine commerciality