Drilling is expected to go ahead as planned at South Africa’s Block 11B/12B, with the first Luiperd well due in June.
Africa Energy, which holds a 4.9% stake in the block, said Total the operator is going ahead with three exploration wells on the block.
The French company signed a deal with Odjfell Drilling for the Deepsea Stavanger semi-submersible in July 2019. The rig is due to move from the North Sea in April.
“Despite the current market volatility triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, 2019 was a transformational year for Africa Energy with the Brulpadda discovery on Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa,” said the TSX-listed company’s CEO and president Garrett Soden.
“The multi-well 2020 exploration campaign is expected to kick-off with the Luiperd well in June and will target several de-risked submarine fan prospects with substantial prospective resources. As the global coronavirus situation is fluid, we will update investors if there are material changes to the drilling schedule,” he said. Africa Energy is well placed to weather the current difficulties in the sector given its recent equity financing and farm-out of Block 2B in South Africa.
Africa Energy raised $25 million earlier this year and has also signed farm-out deals on Block 2B.
The Brulpadda well, drilled in Block 11B/12B in early 2019, found 57 metres of net gas condensate pay in two Lower Cretaceous reservoirs.
This was followed up by 570 square km of 3D seismic shot on Brulpadda and the Luiperd prospect in March and April last year, by Polarcus.
This was followed with a 3,370 km 2D seismic shoot, by Shearwater GeoServices Holding, in December. This was intended to focus on the Kloofpadda lead and an expanded survey, of 7,589 km, was completed this month.
PGS began a 2,200 square km 3D shoot the same month, which should be completed in the second quarter of this year.
The three wells operated by Total and another, the Gazania-1, on Block 2B should all be drilled this year.