A drillship that was operationally active in the Baleine offshore exploration area off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire, has arrived off the coast of Namibia in preparation for intended single-well drilling by Portuguese energy multinational, Galp Energia.
The Santorini, owned by Italian oilfield services company Saipem SpA, is part of an investment of N$2.1 billion by Galp following exploratory drilling in January 2023.
Currently staged off Long Beach between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, the Santorini will be used for ultra-deep drilling in the potentially inclement conditions Namibia’s southern sea is known for.
What sets the Santorini apart from other drill rigs is its large payload capacity, minimising land-based supply-trip maintenance.
Galp commenced drilling operations at the Mopane-1X well, which forms part of the Orange Basin that lies across the border with South Africa, followed by the Mopane-2X well in March 2023.
Both wells have reportedly encountered significant light oil columns, suggesting a strong potential for commercial viability.
The Mopane complex is estimated to contain around 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent, positioning it as a potentially major discovery in the region.
The wells achieved flow rates of up to 14 000 barrels of oil equivalent per day during testing, indicating high productivity.
Galp is not only focused on drilling but also on integrating data from these wells into a reservoir model to refine its future drilling plans. The company aims to continue exploring and appraising the Mopane complex, with additional wells planned for late 2023 or early 2024.
