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TotalEnergies to explore Deep Western Orange basin offshore South Africa

TotalEnergies plans to explore the Deep Western Orange Basin offshore South Africa, drilling up to seven wells targeting prospects similar to major nearby discoveries.

Alex Procyk

Aug. 12, 2025

2 min read

Key Highlights

TotalEnergies plans to explore a 15,000 sq km area in the Deep Western Orange Basin offshore South Africa.

The campaign includes drilling up to seven wells, seismic profiling, testing, and eventual plugging and abandonment procedures.

The block borders Namibia and overlaps areas of recent discoveries, indicating high prospectivity.

15423636 © Aldorado10 | Dreamstime.com

South Africa flag

South Africa flag

TotalEnergies EP South Africa SAS (TEEPSA) will explore Deep Western Orange basin (DWOB) off the West Coast of South Africa 211 km offshore from the coastal town of Saldanha Bay in 500-3,900 m of water.

An exploration well drilling campaign will be conducted in the DWOB block, SLR Consulting Ltd. said in a release Aug. 8. TEEPSA is a client of SLR.

TEEPSA’s Area of Interest for oil and gas exploration covers 15,000 sq km. The campaign proposes drilling of up to seven exploration or appraisal wells. The work program includes vertical seismic profiling (VSP), testing, and plugging and abandonment.

The 3,000 sq km DWOB block borders Namibia to the north and PEL 39, areas of discoveries by TotalEnergies, Shell, Galp Energia SGPS SA, and Africa Oil Corp (OGJ Online, Oct. 2, 2024).

The Orange Basin Deep block sits within the same offshore basin as the major Venus and Graff discoveries, the Orange Basin, and encounters several of the same plays. Two geological levels of prospectivity exist, one in a deeper buried level in the Lower Cretaceous in the form of Aptian aged basin floor fans, equivalent to the Venus discovery in the Namibian Orange Basin, and an additional prospectivity in the Upper Cretaceous in the form of several Graff-equivalent leads which share a common trapping mechanism with the major Namibian discovery.

TEEPSA must obtain an Environmental Authorization from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) prior to commencing with exploration.

TEEPSA is operator at DWOB block with 40% interest. Partners are QatarEnergy (30%), Sezigyn Pty. (20%), and Petrobras (10%).

Exxon set to sign offshore gas exploration deal with Libya, embassy says

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Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) is on the verge of signing an offshore gas exploration deal in Libya, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, which would mark the company's return to the country after a decade-long absence.

Separately, the Libyan government has launched its first major oil and gas licensing round since 2007, offering 22 onshore and offshore exploration blocks.

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The head of Libya's National Oil Corporation said nearly 40 multinational companies, including Exxon (NYSE:XOM), Chevron (CVX), TotalEnergies (TTE) and Eni (E) have shown interest in bidding for blocks.

Libya currently produces 1.3M-1.4M bbl/day of oil, but the NOC aims to ramp up output to 2M bbl/day within the next three years, provided sufficient foreign investment is secured, and Libya could hold more than 90B barrels of untapped oil and gas reserves, positioning the country as one of the most promising yet underexplored energy frontiers in North Africa.

Key have begun to resume operations in Libya: BP and Eni restarted drilling activities in the Ghadames Basin in 2024, and oilfield services company Weatherford returned in 2025 after more than a decade-long absence.

Energean takes FID on Irena field offshore Croatia

The field is in the Izabela concession in about 45 m of water. The development plans for a single platform tie-back to existing infrastructure at Izabela field.

Alex Procyk

July 31, 2025

Map from Energean

Energean Croatia Izabella and Irena fields

Map from Energean

Izabela concession, Energean, Croatia

Energean PLC and Industrija Nafte d.d. (INA) made a final investment decision (FID) to develop Irena gas field in the the northern Adriatic Sea near the maritime border between Italy and Croatia.

The field is in the Izabela concession in about 45 m of water about 7 km from Izabela field, in the northern part of the block. Development plans call for a single platform tie-back to existing infrastructure at Izabela field, Energean said in a release July 30.

According to Energean's website, Irena field is a structural-stratigraphic trap discovered in 2006 and contains a single dry gas reservoir in the Ravenna formation of Pleistocene age.

First gas is expected in first-half 2027, with expected peak production of about 8-10 MMscfd. Estimated reserves at the Irena field amount to about 865 million cu m of gas, equivalent to about 5.4 MMboe, INA said in a separate release.

Total estimated capital expenditure for the project is EUR 71 million.

The concession is operated by Edina d.o.o., a 50-50 joint venture between Energean and INA. Energean holds 70% with INA holding the remaining 30%.

BW Energy contracts rig to drill appraisal well offshore Namibia

BW Energy expects to spud the Kharas appraisal well in this year’s second half in the northwest corner of Kudu, up-dip from nearby discoveries.

July 28, 2025

Map from BW Energy, June 2025 investor presentation

Namibia

BW Energy said it was preparing to spud the Kharas appraisal well in this year’s second half in the northwest corner of Kudu.

BW Energy has contracted the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig for the drilling of the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu license (PPL003) offshore Namibia in the Orange basin, scheduled for second-half 2025.

The agreement is part of a rig-sharing deal previously agreed by the rig’s operator, Northern Ocean Ltd., with Rhino Resources Ltd. The contract, entered into by BW Kudu Ltd., provides access to an in-country rig and a services team.

Kudu gas field, discovered in 1974, lies about 130 km offshore in the southern parts of Namibia and contains an estimated 1.3 tcf of gas (P 50).

In May 2023, BW Energy completed the acquisition of about 5,000 sq km of 3D seismic to enhance the depositional model and identify potential upside targets in the license.

In a June 2025 investor presentation, BW Energy said it was preparing to spud the Kharas appraisal well in this year’s second half in the northwest corner of Kudu. The prospect is up-dip from nearby discoveries in about 650 m water depth.

BW Energy is the operator of the license with a 95% working interest (OGJ Online, Jan. 14, 2021). NAMCOR E&P, a subsidiary of the national oil company of Namibia, holds the remaining 5% carried interest.

EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT

NAMCOR extends exploration period for PEL 79 in Orange basin, Namibia

The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy for the Republic of Namibia granted an extension to the second renewal exploration period, extending the current license period to July 2026.

Alex Procyk

July 17, 2025

Key takeaways

The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy for the Republic of Namibia granted an extension to NAMCOR for PEL 79 in Orange basin.

The extension runs to July 2026.

Map from Sintana Energy

Namibia license map

National Petroleum Corp. of Namibia (Pty) Ltd. (NAMCOR) has been granted an exploration period extension for petroleum exploration license 79 (PEL 79), which governs Blocks 2815 and 2915, in Namibia’s Orange basin.

In a release July 17, license partner Sintana Energy Inc. said the partners were notified by the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy for the Republic of Namibia that a 12-month extension to the second renewal exploration period has been granted extending the current license period to July 2026.

PEL 79 has over 4,760 km of 2D seismic, 1,137 sq km of 3D seismic, and one well with gas shows intersecting the Kudu source rock. The license sits adjacent to PEL 85 which has two wells which returned a flow test in excess of 11,000 b/d of light oil from a 38-m net oil-bearing reservoir.

NAMCOR is operator of PEL 79 (67%) with partner Giraffe Energy Investments (Pty) Ltd. (33%). Sintana holds 49% of Giraffe Energy

"Desire my pilot is, beauty my prize. Who fears sinking where such treasure lies?"

Maybe wishful thinking but are the stars aligning for us?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/bp-shell-to-study-hydrocarbon-potential-at-three-libyan-oilfields/ar-AA1I92lB?ocid=edgdhpruby&pc=EDGEDB&cvid=71bcfd879fd346faa68b6390dd6636d2&uxmode=ruby&ei=10

Two weeks ago Schwab said as a US citizen I couldn’t participate in the offering. In the afternoon then they offered me the shares. Took my allotment and 150% more. At 1.4 pence I believe it was. In a week or so the extra disappeared now the original allocation disappeared. Go figure. I’ll have to buy on the open market then which is now 2 cents in the US. I noticed that Pancontinental has 8 billion shares outstanding. Wow.

When I see these scam accusations it makes me laugh. Could be true like “the Prodcers” with AP as Zero Mostel and Duncan as Gene Wilder. All in fun mind you. Though you will recall they had a hit play in spite of themselves. We may have an oil company after all.

At Schwab the original allotment is still in limbo. The excess requested is somewhere in the ethereal oneness I suppose.

Thanks for the comments. Schwab doesn’t show anything but the original allotment in a limbo state.

So we should get 19% of the extra we asked for. Do I have understand this correctly?

Didn’t get any extra shares. Just the basic allocation. Rats!

Called Schwab yesterday morning to exercise my rights. They shuffled around and ended up saying I wasn’t eligible being a US Citizen. Huh? Later in the day got an email and exercised my rights. Took my allocation and asked for 150% more. Later my account says i asked for 300% more this morning it’s normal. Hope they get credited tomorrow. Would have been ok with 300% but it was some kind book keeping process I suppose. Good luck to all.

Https://www.bing.com/search?q=gmail+app&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgcIARBFGMIDMgcIABBFGMIDMgcIARBFGMIDMgcIAhBFGMIDMgcIAxBFGMIDMgcIBBBFGMIDMgcIBRBFGMIDMgcIBhBFGMIDMgcIBxBFGMID0gEMODI1ODczNDlqMGo0qAIIsAIB&FORM=ANAB01&PC=EDGEDB

Someone brought that up a year or two ago, same way with the Moroccans, it is a matter of honor and gratitude on their part for helping their industries getting started.

Tried to keep my mouth shut ( probably should), but Rigas started this smaller scale project stuff. It is totally uncalled for at this point. We could be 1000’ foot away from a thick 100m gas bearing sand. All the siesmic , AVO and geology in the world can’t beat a drilled well for proof. These discussions are healthy but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we probably have a lot more gas than we can possibly dream of. We just need to drill. The acreage is vast with untold riches. It has already given big clues. Remember my Prudoe Bay comment?

Https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/news/content/ss-AA1FzTCm?ocid=sapphireappshare

We should not do any further business with ENERGEAN. It was Rigas’ mouth that was responsible for driving our share price much lower. He lacked complete tact and continued in that vain. Been in this business a long time and to condemn our vast area after one dry hole is ludicrous. Even the nonsense about a smaller operator. Arco drilled 6 dry holes before discovering Prudoe Bay. Let’s get somebody that is going to drill some wells. We already know it is productive. Go Chariot keep reaching for the stars.

Https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rhino-resources-halliburton-complete-two-222359611.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Two new offshore wells.