ROV-assisted campaign advances Angolan discovery trio toward FID

August 11, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

UK-headquartered and AIM-listed upstream oil and gas company Afentra has wrapped up its first operated offshore campaign on Block 3/24, supporting the maturation of three hydrocarbon discoveries toward a final investment decision (FID).

FSO Palanca; Source: Stapem Offshore — FSO Palanca deployed at Block 3/05; Source: Stapem Offshore

Afentra’s first operated offshore campaign on Block 3/24 enabled the inspection of the Palanca NE, Golungo-1, Quissama-1, and Quissama-2 subsea wellheads, acquiring video, measurement, and well integrity data to support the ongoing technical evaluation of the Golungo-Palanca NE-Quissama (GPQ) development, containing three of the ten discoveries identified on the block.

The company emphasizes that no hydrocarbon leakage or seepage was observed, and the campaign was completed with zero safety or environmental incidents. The data acquired during the campaign will support the ongoing technical evaluation of the block and the maturation of the GPQ development toward the FID.

This campaign was managed directly by Afentra, utilizing a compact remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed from a locally contracted vessel. The optimized approach completed the entire scope for a total cost of approximately $60,000, representing a material cost saving compared to conventional contracting market rates of between $500,000 and $1 million for a campaign of this nature.

GPQ is a development project offshore Angola within Block 3/24 in the Lower Congo Basin. The three discoveries are envisioned to be brought online as a fast-track, infrastructure-led development, using the nearby existing Block 3/05 infrastructure. Afentra is advancing well re-entry, wellhead inspection and development optimization work, with the FID targeted for Q4 2026.

Paul McDade, Chief Executive Officer of Afentra, commented: “Successfully executing our first operated offshore campaign on Block 3/24 with zero incidents, and at a fraction of standard industry costs, demonstrates the disciplined, pragmatic and entrepreneurial approach we bring to operatorship.

“This progress, alongside the anticipated completion of the Etu acquisition, positions us exceptionally well to deliver sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders as we advance our world-class Angolan portfolio.”

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