Vaalco Energy spuds first well in three-well program offshore Gabon

Vaalco Energy Inc. has spudded the ET-15 infill well on the Etame platform, marking the start of its phase-three drilling program offshore Gabon.

The rig, secured in December 2024 from an affiliate of Borr Drilling, arrived at the drilling site in late November 2025.

Vaalco is initiating the program with the infill well and pilot holes. After drilling at the Etame platform, the company expects to move the rig to the Seent and Ebouri platforms. 

As part of its third-quarter 2025 report, Vaalco said the drilling program in Gabon includes drilling multiple development wells, appraisal or exploration wells, and workovers, with options to drill additional wells. In the report, the company noted plans to drill wells at both Etame and Seent platforms, as well as a re-drill and a number of workovers in the Ebouri field to access production and reserves previously removed from proved reserves due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide.