ReconAfrica commences drilling of first well in Namibia

Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) has started drilling operations on the first well (6-2) of an initial three well programme in the Kavango Basin located in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia.

With its 1,000 HP rig (Jarvie-1), the company is now drilling to a 12,500ft total depth (TD) to analyse potential hydrocarbon systems in one of the five major sub-basins of the  Permian aged Kavango basin.

The company stated that the first section of the first well is intended to touch 4,800ft in depth where intermediate casing will be set.

From an interval of 1,000ft to 4,800ft, sidewall cores and well logs will be run to find out conventional targets. Prognosis of the well provides for touching the top of the Permian section at about 4,000ft, claimed the company.

The second prospective section of the well is intended to touch a TD of 12,500ft drilling through the intermediate to lower Permian sections.

For drilling the lower sections, the firm will take whole core and carry out a complete logging suite of all zones of interest – conventional targets and source rocks.

Schlumberger will provide a complete logging programme over both sections.

The company plans to drill 6-2 well with water-based drilling fluid, offering ideal samples (cuttings and core) to be used to find out a range of petroleum properties and locations for future exploration and production wells.

ReconAfrica has teamed up with Valence Drilling Fluids, a firm that offers all organic and biodegradable drilling fluids that are claimed to be environmentally safe, for several aspects, including topsoil enhancement and development.

Reconnaissance Energy Africa SVP of drilling and completions Nick Steinsberger said: “Drilling the first three wells in a newly discovered Permian basin, where one company holds all of the rights, is certainly a rare opportunity.

“There are many important similarities between the Kavango basin and the Permian Basin in West Texas, one of the world’s most prolific producing basins, where I have been actively drilling and completing wells for many years. I anticipate the first well will take up to 45 days to reach total depth and initial analysis of all prospective productive targets.”