Galp adds 700 million barrels to Namibian reserves

Portuguese energy giant Galp Energia has confirmed a 700 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) increase in its upper-range potential oil and gas reserves in Namibia.

This marks a 25% year-on-year rise, following successful drilling activities in the offshore Orange Basin.

The updated figures, now standing at 2.79 billion boe, were independently verified by global consultancy DeGolyer and MacNaughton, based on data available up to 30 November 2024.

The discoveries were made within petroleum exploration licence 83 (PEL 83), which spans nearly 10 000 square kilometres in Namibia’s southern offshore region.

Galp holds an 80% operating interest in the licence, with the remaining 20% split equally between the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) and Custos Energy.

The appraisal campaign included the Mopane-1X, Mopane-2X, and partial results from the Mopane-1A well, revealing significant hydrocarbon potential.

The company’s initial drilling phase comprised two exploratory wells and a drill stem test, which, according to Galp, “revealed significant light oil and gas condensate columns in high-quality reservoir sands.

Logs indicated strong porosity and permeability, and fluid samples showed very low oil viscosity, minimal carbon dioxide, and no hydrogen sulphide content”.

A second phase of exploration commenced in October 2024, targeting the northwest section of the Mopane complex with the drilling of Mopane-1A and Mopane-2A, both of which were completed by the end of the year.

This was followed by the Mopane-3X well, drilled in early 2025 in the South-eastern part of the structure.

The well targeted two stacked prospects and encountered light oil and condensates in both identified targets and a deeper sandstone interval.

“Preliminary data confirms light oil and condensates columns across the identified targets and a deeper sand in a high-quality sandstone reservoir with high pressures, permeabilities, and porosities,” Galp notes.

“The well proved the potential of the southeast region of the complex, opening up the region for future appraisal activity.”

Reservoir quality across the Mopane complex has been consistently rated high, with favourable flow test results.

During early exploration, dynamic testing recorded flows reaching the maximum permitted limit of 14 000 boe per day, with fluid samples continuing to demonstrate low viscosity, minimal carbon monoxide, and no hydrogen sulphide.

Galp also completed a proprietary high-resolution three-dimensional seismic survey over the southern portion of PEL 83 in March to enhance subsurface understanding and support future development planning.

“Galp’s focus currently remains on analysing and integrating the data being collected.

A sound interpretation of it is paramount in supporting any feasibility assessment. The potential implications of Mopane discovery and exploration on the overall portfolio and sustainability targets are not overlooked at Galp,” the company says.

It has now shifted its attention to analysing the cumulative data from the five wells drilled to date, which it says will help shape development concepts for both the north-west and south-east regions of the Mopane complex.