Namibia's Ministry of Mines and Energy has awarded two more exploration licenses in the country's first petroleum licensing round.
A joint venture of Chevron Overseas (Namibia) Ltd. and Eagle Energy (Namibia) Ltd., a unit of Engen Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa, was awarded a license covering the 4,200 sq mile Area 2815 (see map, Apr. 8, p. 85) in the Orange River basin off Namibia's southern coast.
South Africa's Sasol Mining Ltd. was awarded a license covering License Area 2012. Details of the work program were not released.
Sasol's license is the third awarded under Namibia's first licensing round, and the Chevron/Eagle joint venture is the fourth. Both licenses have a 4 year initial term with option for extension.
Earlier this year, a Norwegian group including Den norske stats oljeselskap AS, Norsk Hydro AS, and Saga AS was awarded License Area 1911 (OGJ, Mar. 23, p. 46), and Ranger Oil Ltd. was awarded License Area 2213 (OGJ, June 22, p. 34), which it will explore with Hardy Oil & Gas plc.
The Chevron-Eagle combine agreed to conduct an undisclosed amount of seismic surveys and drill at least two deep wells. At least $800,000 will be spent training Namibians.
The area is east of the Kudu natural gas discovery Chevron and partners drilled in 1974. Kudu was the first hydrocarbon discovery in the country.
Chevron will operate and hold a 60% interest in the license, with Eagle holding the remainder. Formal signing is expected next month.
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