The Saipem Santorini drillship has commenced drilling operations for the Mopane appraisal well in Namibia’s Orange Basin, a region rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting oil and gas frontiers globally. This marks the beginning of a four-well campaign, with up to two exploration and two appraisal wells planned for the region.
In a significant development, Galp, the Portuguese oil and gas company, announced a major discovery during the first well of its second exploration and appraisal campaign within the Orange Basin. The Mopane-1A well encountered light oil and gas condensate in high-quality reservoir sands, affirming the basin’s immense potential. The well’s positive results build upon previous discoveries in PEL 83, including Mopane-1X and Mopane-2X, and findings by industry leaders like Shell and TotalEnergies.
Galp confirmed that the well had been successfully drilled, cored, and logged, with findings indicating robust prospects for the AVO-1 area. This discovery enhances the promise of the Mopane area and strengthens the case for the Orange Basin as a key player in global energy exploration. With this success, Galp’s ongoing efforts in the region position the Orange Basin as a crucial frontier for future oil and gas developments.
