Operations Updates
ReconAfrica is working collaboratively with national governments to explore oil and gas potential in Northeast Namibia and Northwest Botswana – the Kavango Basin. To date, ReconAfrica has been granted licences by Namibia and Botswana to explore and confirm the presence of their hydrocarbon resources.
ReconAfrica has received permission from the Government of Namibia to drill three conventional stratigraphic wells and conduct a low impact 2D seismic program to provide a more complete picture of the geological formations in the area. This is a conventional drilling program focused on analyzing the rocks to determine if there is a working petroleum system in the Kavango Basin. It’s important to note that the wells are not intended to produce flowing oil and we emphasize that the Company is conducting a conventional drilling program.
Any and all samples taken during our current drilling program are owned and managed by Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy. Should oil and gas be discovered, the traditional authorities and elected governments of Namibia and Botswana will determine how they will manage their resources.
On November 5, 2021, ReconAfrica and its joint venture partner NAMCOR (the state oil company of Namibia) provided initial results from the first seismic acquisition program ever conducted in the Kavango Sedimentary Basin, in northeast Namibia. The program, which concluded in late October, consisted of 450 linear kilometers of seismic data that were successfully acquired within budget and on schedule.
The initial processing results of the seismic acquisition produced high quality data revealing a variety of structural and stratigraphic features providing for a target rich environment for the upcoming drilling program scheduled for early Q1, 2022. This data supports the Company’s basic premise, that the Kavango Basin is a rift basin (geologically different from the Owambo Basin), with similar features to many of the world’s petroleum producing provinces.
On October 21, 2021, ReconAfrica and its joint venture partner NAMCOR (the state oil company of Namibia) announced the successful completion of the first seismic acquisition program ever conducted in the Kavango Sedimentary Basin in northeast Namibia.
The seismic program comprised 450 linear kilometres of high quality 2D seismic data. It took 150,000 human-hours to complete the campaign, of which 80% were Namibians recruited predominantly from local communities. Results are expected to be available in Q4, 2021 that will help further define drilling and exploration activities in 2022. (ReconAfrica Successfully Completes The First Seismic Program in the Kavango Basin, NE Namibia – October 21, 2021)
On September 2, 2021, ReconAfrica and its joint venture partner NAMCOR (the state oil company of Namibia) released preliminary log and core analysis of the first well drilled (well 6-2) in the Kavango basin that was provided by Core Laboratories (“Core Lab”) and Netherland Sewell & Associates Inc. (“NSAI”).
The NSAI petrophysical study, the first in the Kavango basin, identified five potential conventional reservoir zones in the 6-2 well, of which three are clastic zones (sandstone) and two are carbonate zones (limestone, dolomite) based on the first set of core analysis and mineralogical data from Core Lab. This study, which brings together wireline log data, core data, and sample and hydrocarbon show data from the 6-2 well, confirmed 198 meters (650 feet) of net reservoir over five separate intervals.
The NSAI presentation can be found here Petrophysical Study Of Strat Test 6-2 Well
Seismic Operations ReconAfrica’s has completed approximately 30% of its 450 km seismic field acquisition which has produced good initial data quality. The program is on schedule for completion by the end of October 2021.
(Netherland Sewell Study Identifies 5 Potential Conventional Oil and Gas Reservoir Rock Zones in the First Well (6-2) in the Kavango Basin, Namibia – September 2, 2021)
On August 5, 2021 ReconAfrica and NAMCOR provided, based on the mud logging report and geochemical analysis, more comprehensive data confirming a working conventional petroleum system in the Kavango Sedimentary Basin.
Highlights:
- The 6-2 well and 6-1 well reached total depths of 2,294 meters (7,526 feet) and 2,780 meters (9,121 feet) respectively.
- The 6-2 well had over 250 meters (820 feet) of hydrocarbon shows while the 6-1 had over 350 meters (1,148 feet) of hydrocarbon shows.
- Both wells had full logging suites, extensive sidewall cores in addition to the full sample analysis of cuttings, and hydrocarbon shows, and were completed to enable the running of vertical seismic profiles in the next month, and potential for re-entry production testing at a later date.
- The Company has now completed all drilling components required to satisfy the work program requirements for an extension of the exploration period on PEL 73.
- The Company will transition to the exploration phase of drilling activity, targeting mapping of the entire leasehold and potential accumulations of recoverable commercial hydrocarbons.
A complete report on the sample logging of hydrocarbon intervals from the 6-2 well can be seen here.
Next Phase of Exploration Program:
With the confirmation of a working conventional hydrocarbon system within the first of a potential five sub basins, ReconAfrica and NAMCOR will be using drilling and 2D seismic data to determine future drilling locations. In addition to potential production testing results from the 6-2 and 6-1 wells, future drilling locations will target potential hydrocarbon bearing structures from the seismic program with the purpose of achieving commercial levels of oil and natural gas production.
It is expected that once the seismic data is acquired, an additional one or two wells will be drilled in 2021 and a further two to four wells drilled in the first half of 2022. Additionally, the acquisition and integrated interpretation of the 2D seismic data will facilitate a farm out joint venture process for the Company which will further accelerate the overall evaluation, exploration, and development of the 8,500,000 acres in Namibia and Botswana. (ReconAfrica and NAMCOR Provide Additional Drilling Results and Plans for Next Exploration Phase in the Kavango Basin – August 5, 2021)
On July 30, 2021 ReconAfrica initiated low-impact 2D seismic program in the Kavango Sedimentary Basin of Northeast Namibia. This 450 km, 2D seismic program is the first seismic acquisition project ever conducted in basin. With the success of the first two stratigraphic wells confirming an active conventional petroleum system in the basin, this seismic program is designed to delineate potential traps and hydrocarbon reservoirs.
For details about ReconAfrica’s low-impact 2D seismic system click here.
The program should be concluded by the end of October 2021. The results, integrated with the Vertical Seismic Profiles currently being prepared for the 6-2 and 6-1 wells, will be used to guide the next round of drilling, expected to commence start before year-end.
Vertical Seismic Profile: With multiple logging runs completed and 86 sidewall cores now taken in the 6-1 well, ReconAfrica is preparing to run and cement casing to isolate the prospective hydrocarbon bearing zones. Shortly thereafter, a vertical seismic profile tool (VSP) will be run to total depth to tie into the 2D seismic program. The first stratigraphic test well, the 6-2, will also have a VSP run and the two wells will be tied together along the same seismic line to assess geologic continuity between these two wells
(ReconAfrica Commences the Kavango Basin’s First 2D Seismic Program & Launch a Comprehensive Community Water Well Drilling Campaign NE Namibia – July 30, 2021)
ReconAfrica and NAMCOR (the state oil company of Namibia) announced July 14, 2021 the completion of drilling operations of the second stratigraphic test well (6-1). The 6-1 well is now being prepared for wireline logging. Multiple logging runs will be made and up to 50 sidewall cores taken, all designed to maximize hydrocarbon recovery. After the logging and coring operations are completed, a vertical seismic profile tool (“VSP”) will be run to total depth to tie into the 2D seismic program that will begin this month across the Kavango Sedimentary Basin. The first stratigraphic test well, the 6-2, will also have a VSP run and the two wells will be tied together along the same seismic line. Later in the month casing will be run and cemented to isolate the prospective hydrocarbon bearing zones.(ReconAfrica & NAMCOR Complete Drilling Operations on the 6-1 in the Kavango Basin, Namibia – July 14, 2021)
On July 2, 2021 Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism issued the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for the initial low-impact 2D seismic program to be conducted in Petroleum Exploration License No. 73 in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions of Namibia. With the ECC seismic permit now in place, ReconAfrica and NAMCOR (the National Oil Company of Namibia) have begun acquisition of the initial 450 km 2D seismic program in the Kavango Sedimentary Basin. Acquisition is expected to start during the third week of July and is anticipated to take 6 to 8 weeks. (ReconAfrica & NAMCOR Granted 2D Seismic Permit for the Kavango Basin, Namibia – July 7, 2021)
Drilling: The Company announced June 24, 2021 that it has taken a short break in drilling operations due to maintenance issues and expects to re-start drilling in the next couple of days to a permitted total depth of approximately 3,800 m (12,500 feet). It’s now anticipated that drilling of this second well (6-1) will conclude during the first week of July 2021.
To date, the 6-1 well has encountered 343 m (1,125 feet) of light oil and gas indicators (shows), further confirming an active petroleum system in the Kavango Sedimentary basin.
Permitting: The Company has formally received all water well regulatory approvals for drilling operations from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.
Seismic Operations: Subject to final permitting, the seismic program is expected to commence in the third week of July for an anticipated 6-8 week duration (ReconAfrica Provides Operational Update and COVID-19 Response – June 24, 2021)
On June 11, 2021 the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) and ReconAfrica executed a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA). Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly pursue an ongoing petroleum exploration program in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions of Namibia, with ReconAfrica covering the full costs to commerciality. The two companies initially entered into a Petroleum Exploration Agreement with the Government of Namibia in 2015, under which they acquired Petroleum Licence No. 73. (NAMCOR and ReconAfrica Sign JOA; A Partnership That Seeks to Unlock the Vast Resource Potential in Namibia – June 14, 2021)
ReconAfrica began drilling operations for its second well (6-1) in early May 2021, to continue the evaluation of working conventional hydrocarbon systems confirmed in the first well (6-2). Based on initial analysis of the first section of the second well, the results show similar characteristics to those seen in the first well, 16 km to the south. The second well is located in the same sub-basin and shows clear evidence of a working conventional petroleum system. (6-1 Well Provides Further Confirmation of Working Petroleum System and 1st Report of Progress on ESG)
ReconAfrica is on schedule to finish drilling operations of the second well by the end of June.
Drilling of the first well was completed in March 2021, with preliminary results arriving in mid-April showing the discovery of a working petroleum system in the Kavango Basin. (News Release: ReconAfrica’s First of Three Wells Confirms a Working Petroleum System in the Kavango Basin, Namibia )
The results in April were promising and exciting as we now know there is an oil and gas presence in Kavango – a successful first step. While this is a promising result, it is one part of a highly scientific and complex process to confirm a productive and economically viable reserve.
In the coming months, we will drill two additional stratigraphic wells that will provide us with additional critical data to evaluate the petroleum systems discovered in the first well. We began drilling on our second well (6-2) in early May 2021. (News Release: ReconAfrica Announces Spudding of the Second Well)
We are also planning a low-impact 2D seismic survey program to further confirm the conventional resource and are working with the Namibian government to secure approval of a second Environmental Impact Assessment for this program.
These preliminary results are the first major step toward proving whether Namibians have their own source of energy and hold the promise of long-term energy security and the associated significant socio-economic benefits for the country.
In January, ReconAfrica began its drilling operations in the deep Kavango Basin of Northeast Namibia as it initiated the first of three stratigraphic wells (Well 6-1). (News Release: Operations Update: Drilling Program Now in Progress)