Vaalco commences drilling on Block 5 offshore Angola

March 5, 2015
Vaalco Energy Inc., Houston, has spudded the post-salt Kindele-1 well on Block 5 offshore Angola to test a fault block adjacent to the Mubafo discovery, which tested oil from the Mucanzo sand section within the Pinda group formations.

Vaalco Energy Inc., Houston, has spudded the post-salt Kindele-1 well on Block 5 offshore Angola to test a fault block adjacent to the Mubafo discovery, which tested oil from the Mucanzo sand section within the Pinda group formations.

Marking the first exploration well on the block, Kindele-1 will be drilled by the Transocean Ltd. Celtic Sea semisubmersible rig to a depth of 1,800 m to evaluate the Mucanzo sand section. It will then be deepened to the salt at an estimated depth of 2,250 m for geologic and geophysical correlation.

The well, which lies in 100 m of water, is expected to take 6 weeks to drill to total depth.

The company also is nearing finalization of the seismic processing in the outboard portion of the block to image presalt structures as potential targets for future exploration wells.

Vaalco and partner Sonangol P&P last year entered into the subsequent exploration phase (SEP) on Block 5. Under the SEP, the companies have committed to drill a total of four exploration wells during the exploration extension period, which expires in November 2017.

The four-well obligation includes the original two-well commitment under the primary exploration period that carries over to the SEP period.

“After nearly 9 years of continued commitment to our Block 5 license, we are embarking on an important phase in our efforts to explore for hydrocarbons from a second West African country,” commented Steve Guidry, Vaalco chairman and chief executive officer (OGJ Online, May 16, 2006; Nov. 10, 2006).

In addition to Angola, the company has a presence in Gabon, where it recently started production from its Etame 10-H development well (OGJ Online, Feb. 13, 2015).

“We continue to believe that Block 5 is within an area with potential in both post- and presalt formations including the syn-rift and sag play,” Guidry said.