ReconAfrica has officially begun drilling the highly anticipated Naingopo oil and gas exploration well onshore in Namibia. The Canadian oil and gas company, in collaboration with Namibia’s state oil company NAMCOR, spudded the well on Petroleum Exploration Licence 73 (“PEL 73”) in the Damara Fold Belt on July 7, 2024.
This marks a significant milestone as it is the first well to be drilled in the Damara Fold Belt, targeting both oil and gas reservoir intervals. The Naingopo well is expected to reach a total depth of approximately 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) over the course of 90 days. It is estimated to hold unrisked prospective oil resources of 163 million barrels or 843 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO of ReconAfrica, expressed his excitement about the drilling process, highlighting the potential of unlocking over 3.1 billion barrels of oil or 18 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the region. The company is also progressing with the farm-out joint venture process in hopes of further advancing their exploration efforts.
Chris Sembritzky, Senior VP of Exploration, emphasized the significance of the Naingopo well in testing the Damara Fold Belt play, which could lead to substantial oil and natural gas discoveries in the area. ReconAfrica’s exploration activities in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia and Botswana have positioned them as key players in the region’s energy sector.
As the company embarks on this high-impact drilling campaign, the Naingopo well represents just the beginning of what could be a game-changing exploration endeavor in the Namibian oil and gas industry.
