ReconAfrica to test discovery well

Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. started downhole production testing at the Kavango West 1X (KW1X) discovery well in onshore Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 73 in northeast Namibia.

Plans are to isolate and test six optimized zones of interest across Huttenburg and Elandshoek formations.

In the Huttenburg formation, 75 m (246 ft.) of net hydrocarbon will be tested in 400 m (1,312 ft.) of gross interval in a highly fractured carbonate reservoir. In the Elandshoek formation, 560 m (1,837 ft.) of hydrocarbon saturated section will be tested in highly fractured carbonate reservoirs which have 81 m (265 ft.) of hydrocarbon fluorescence and oil shows. Oil sheen and oil bubbles appeared at the surface in the mud pits while drilling this interval.

The cement bond log confirmed that production testing could proceed with no additional cement work. Downhole perforation work is currently under way. Each zone test will last up to 10 days.

Any flow of natural gas or liquids to surface will be flared at this stage. Following a successful production test, the well would be temporarily abandoned and available as a future producing well.

While permitting requirements for the transportation of the downhole testing equipment from North America to the Kavango West 1X drill site experienced minor delays, ReconAfrica continues to target disclosure of production test results to all stakeholders by late July.

ReconAfrica plans for further appraisal drilling on the Kavango discovery following the completion of the production test at KW1X. Preparations for the appraisal well are proceeding with specific permitting applications and site preparations underway for the Kavango West 2A (KW2A) well.  Well spud is planned before the end of the third quarter of this year pending final permitting and regulatory approvals.

ReconAfrica is the operator of PEL 73 (70%) with partners BW Energy (20%) and the National Petroleum Corp. of Namibia (NAMCOR, 10%). ReconAfrica is also operator of Ngulu block.