TotalEnergies begins drilling first of two planned oil prospects offshore Namibia

After discovering more black gold resources in Namibia’s Orange Basin, France’s energy giant TotalEnergies has moved to the next well on its drilling agenda in the African country. These drilling operations are being carried out by a semi-submersible rig, owned by Northern Ocean (NOL) and managed by Odfjell Drilling.

TotalEnergies resumed hydrocarbon exploration on Block 2913B in the prolific Orange Basin off the coast of Namibia, north of the Venus accumulation, with the Tamboti-1X exploration well, described as a 1 billion barrel target. The Deepsea Mira rig, which has been working with TotalEnergies under a multi-country drilling contract since December 2022, spud the well in October 2024.

TotalEnergies (50.5%) is the operator of Block 2913B in PEL 56, which covers approximately 8,215 square kilometers offshore Namibia. The firm’s joint venture (JV) partners are QatarEnergy (30%), Africa Oil’s Impact Oil and Gas (9.5%), and Namibia’s NAMCOR (10%).

Africa Oil’s Impact has confirmed the completion of drilling and testing operations at the Tamboti-1X exploration well and spudding of the Marula-1X exploration in Block 2913B. The Tamboti-1X well encountered black oil within 85 meters of a net reservoir of lower-quality Upper Cretaceous sandstones, belonging to the Mangetti fan system.

Impact reported that the drill stem test (DST) program was concluded at the location, with results from the acquired log, core, and DST data currently under analysis. The Deepsea Mira rig started drilling the Marula-1X exploration well within the southern part of Block 2913B on February 3, 2025. The JV explains the well will target Albian-aged sandstones within the Marula fan complex.

As a result, the well is said to have the potential to unlock further exploration targets across the south, an area lying at the heart of the prolific Kudu source-rock kitchen. The JV also expects to drill the Olympe prospect, targeting Albian sands within a structural closure, on the TotalEnergies-operated Block 2912 by the end of 2025.

Furthermore, Africa Oil has confirmed that TotalEnergies and its partners are continuing to progress the proposed development of the Venus field, with development studies ongoing. Since the 2022 Venus-1X discovery well, three further wells were drilled and four drill stem tests were carried out.

Roger Tucker, Africa Oil’s President and CEO, commented: “The Venus project is progressing well and we are very encouraged by the operator’s public statements on the commerciality and the quality of this field. There is also an exciting exploration program with Marula-1X operations under way and the plan to start drilling Olympe-1X well by the end of 2025.

“Through our recent strategic initiatives, we have retained the upside to these assets at no upfront cost, with all of Impact’s share of development and exploration expenditures on the two blocks being covered by TotalEnergies, until first commercial production from Venus.”

The Venus field is expected to be the first development in Block 2913B, producing 150,000 barrels of oil per day (around 45o API oil), with a final investment decision (FID) expected by the end of the first half of 2026.