Shell makes fourth oil discovery

Supermajor Shell oil company has made a fourth discovery offshore Namibia, says online publication Upstream.
This after hitting pay dirt with a recently completed exploratory probe in the Orange Basin.

This happened follows the announcement in March of a minor oil discovery in the Jonker-1X deepwater exploration well in the PEL-39 exploration licence, located 270 kilometers offshore Namibia.

Last year, Shell opened up what is now one of the world’s most exciting hydrocarbon plays with its Graff-1X oil discovery, before quickly drilling a successful follow-up probe called La Rona-1X.

Following this recent success, the supermajor has begun drilling a fifth exploration probe, which will target a major possibility some distance north of its previous four finds in Block 2913A.

Data from marine intelligence provider VesselsValue indicates Shell’s fifth exploration well spudded over this weekend.

“As part of our multi-well campaign in Namibia, we have safely and successfully concluded drilling our fourth exploration well, Lesedi-1X. The data we have gathered so far confirms the presence of hydrocarbons, and further evaluation is required to determine the development potential,” said Upstream.

Returning to the Namibian exploration fray this year the supermajor recently completed what Upstream understands was a very promising well test on Graff-1X, after which the semi-submersible rig Deepsea Bollsta spudded the Lesedi-1X probe.

The probe spudded in late May and completed recently.

Little is known about the geology of the Lesedi structure, but considering that Shell’s earlier discoveries were either Upper or Lower Cretaceous, it’s safe to infer the current probe was aimed at a similar-age potential.

The Deepsea Bollsta has now begun drilling the Cullinan-1X probe, some 60 kilometres north of Lesedi, close to the border with the Galp-operated block.

Shell – headed by chief executive Wael Sawan – and QatarEnergy both have 45% stakes in Block 2913A and the adjacent 2914B, with Namcor on 10%.

Shell Namibia Upstream BV has extended its contract with Northern Ocean for further work in the country using the Deepsea Bollsta with N$1,7 billion.

The Shell agreement, which runs from December 2023 to June 2024, includes a N$1,6 billion option for a six-month extension. – The Upstream/Brief