BW Energy has completed drilling operations on the Kharas-1 appraisal well in the Kudu license area, offshore Namibia. The well reached a total depth of 5,100m and intersected multiple reservoir intervals. The well will now be plugged, and abandoned in line with the planned program.

Several shallow turbidite reservoirs with dry-gas shows were encountered, and reservoir properties from these and the acquired whole core are now being evaluated.

In the deeper section of the well, hydrocarbons were encountered in a fractured volcaniclastic reservoir.  This confirms a working petroleum system with condensate and/or light oil. Further analysis is ongoing to determine the extent of the system and to characterise reservoir properties and appraisal options.

"Kharas-1 achieved its technical objective of testing multiple targets within a single penetration and delivered valuable geological, geochemical and petrophysical data. The results also confirm, for the first time, the presence of liquid hydrocarbons within the Kudu block and contribute to our understanding of the broader petroleum system. The reservoir complexity necessitates further appraisal to assess its potential. Our forward programme will focus on further high value targets based on the presence of liquid hydrocarbons, as well as gas and the learnings from Kharas-1A”, said CEO Carl Arnet.

Kudu

The Kudu gas field (PL3) was discovered in 1974, some 130 km offshore and covers an area approximately 4,500 square kilometers. The field is located at a water depth of 170 meters in the Orange sub-basin. Kudu holds a proven reserve of 1.3 TCF (or 220 Mboe) with a further potential of 3-9 TCF. Several companies including Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell and Tullow held the license and drilled a total of 8 exploration and appraisal wells between 1974 and 2014.

Because of its remote location and historically limited gas demand in the southern Africa region, Kudu has remained undeveloped. However, improved demand for gas and electricity in the region has significantly enhanced the viability of the development of Kudu.