Chariot, Petrobras launch 3D survey of Namibian coast

CHARIOT Oil & Gas, a UK-based independent exploration group, is furthering its energy search in Block 2714A offshore Namibia and has embarked on a survey with Petrobras, which will result in 1 500 square kilometres of 3D seismic data.

According the Chariot website, their latest venture follows the completion of a comprehensive seismic acquisition programme across all their offshore licences in February, equipping the AIM-listed company with 3 000 square kilometres of two-dimensional data in their central blocks, 1 500 square kilometres in the southern blocks and 900 square kilometres of three-dimensional data in the northern blocks. The data is currently being processed.Chariot currently holds licences covering ten blocks in Namibia, of which eight are offshore. All these blocks are still in exploration phase.’The Namibian oil and gas sedimentary basins are relatively under-explored frontier basins for hydrocarbon accumulations. To date, there has been a total of 14 wells drilled offshore Namibia. As Namibia is a conjugate margin to Brazil in the south Atlantic, it shares a common geological history and petroleum system style,’ the company says on its website.Chariot says the oil seepage slicks from the blocks indicate a ‘working petroleum system’. ‘The one prospect and 22 leads discovered to date, mean prospective resources of 5,24 million barrels of oil and liquid,’ Chariot claims.Their interest is further peaked by the close proximity of oil, natural gas and condensate accumulations, as well as their multidisciplinary approach which demonstrates that Namibia ‘contains mature source rocks and hydrocarbon migration pathways to reservoirs’.However, Chariot says it will only be able to decide whether or not to renew the licences by 2010 or 2011. Depending on farm-out agreements, like the one with Petrobras in Block 2714A, or further financing, they will consider a drilling campaign on the northern and southern blocks.jo-mare@namibian.com.na