BW Energy contracts rig to drill appraisal well offshore Namibia

BW Energy expects to spud the Kharas appraisal well in this year’s second half in the northwest corner of Kudu, up-dip from nearby discoveries.

July 28, 2025

Namibia — BW Energy said it was preparing to spud the Kharas appraisal well in this year’s second half in the northwest corner of Kudu.

BW Energy has contracted the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig for the drilling of the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu license (PPL003) offshore Namibia in the Orange basin, scheduled for second-half 2025.

The agreement is part of a rig-sharing deal previously agreed by the rig’s operator, Northern Ocean Ltd., with Rhino Resources Ltd. The contract, entered into by BW Kudu Ltd., provides access to an in-country rig and a services team.

Kudu gas field, discovered in 1974, lies about 130 km offshore in the southern parts of Namibia and contains an estimated 1.3 tcf of gas (P 50).

In May 2023, BW Energy completed the acquisition of about 5,000 sq km of 3D seismic to enhance the depositional model and identify potential upside targets in the license.

In a June 2025 investor presentation, BW Energy said it was preparing to spud the Kharas appraisal well in this year’s second half in the northwest corner of Kudu. The prospect is up-dip from nearby discoveries in about 650 m water depth.

BW Energy is the operator of the license with a 95% working interest (OGJ Online, Jan. 14, 2021). NAMCOR E&P, a subsidiary of the national oil company of Namibia, holds the remaining 5% carried interest.