Gabon to increase pace of oil and gas exploration, says Hawilti report

Exploration in Central Africa has been a disappointment in recent years, but there are reasons to be optimistic given activity being supported by several independents in the region. Despite recent disappointments offshore Gabon, the country remains one of the most promising exploration frontiers in the region.

Gabon has gone through several disappointments with exploratory drilling in recent time. Despite a discovery made by Perenco at Wamba on the Tchatamba South permit in November 2021, exploration in the country has failed to deliver results in recent years. BW Energy had two disappointing wells last year, DHIBM-2 and DHBNM-1, while PETRONAS’ Jove Marina-1 well seems not to have delivered on expectations.

However, the recent award by CNOOC of a contract for the Stena Icemax drillship has sent hopes to see better days for Gabon’s exploration. The drillship will be mobilized in Q1 2023 over the BD10 and BC9 Blocks where it will drill the Seal-1 and Tigre-1 wells. Tigre is a giant pre-salt prospect, while Seal is a large 3-way structure located in stacked Albian carbonates where recoverable resources are estimated at over 300 million barrels.

Both wells have been delayed since the COVID-19 pandemic, so their drilling early next year is much awaited in the region.

Meanwhile, additional exploratory drilling campaigns are back on the table and progressing. In 2022 and 2023, Gabon has 18 exploration and appraisal wells planned according to its Ministry of Economy, representing an investment of over US$400 million.

Beside the CNOOC drilling campaign, wells are notably planned by Assala Energy on its Mutamba Iroru II and Ozigo II permits, and by Perenco on its DE8, Mono, Nkouene, Evaro, and Onembe permits.

But other independents in the market are making their moves too. Oil India is finally progressing drilling plans at its Shakthi permit, while Maurel & Prom is hopeful to unlock additional reserves at Ezanga while making new discoveries at Nyanga Mayombe.

Gabon has struggled for year to reverse declining output from maturing oilfields. However, recent development projects by Perenco and BW Energy are set to increase output of oil and natural gas in the short term, with production expected to grow from 200,800 bopd to 220,000 bopd by 2023, according to government forecasts.