French oil giant TotalEnergies has resumed hydrocarbon exploration on Block 2913B in Namibia’s Orange Basin, marking a renewed push into the region’s promising offshore resources.
In a statement published by the African Energy Council on Friday, TotalEnergies confirmed that it has resumed drilling operations with the Tamboti-1X exploration well, located north of the Venus accumulation. This well is described as a 1-billion-barrel target.
The Deepsea Mira rig, operating under a multi-country drilling contract with TotalEnergies since December 2022, spudded the well in October 2024. TotalEnergies holds a 50.5% stake in the 8,215-square-kilometer offshore block, with its joint venture (JV) partners including QatarEnergy (30%), Africa Oil’s Impact Oil and Gas (9.5%), and Namibia’s state-owned NAMCOR (10%).
This development follows an announcement by TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné on Thursday, stating that the United States is set to approve funding for the company’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in Mozambique in the coming weeks.
However, TotalEnergies is awaiting loan re-approvals from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Dutch export credit agencies before lifting the force majeure that has been in place since 2021.
Africa Oil’s Impact Oil and Gas has also initiated drilling at the Marula-1X exploratory well within the same block. This follows the completion of drilling and testing at Tamboti-1X, where the well encountered black oil in 85 meters of net reservoir within the low-quality Upper Cretaceous sandstones of the Mangetti fan system.
Impact confirmed that the drill stem test (DST) program has been completed, and log, core, and DST data are currently under assessment.
The Deepsea Mira rig commenced drilling at Marula-1X, located in the southern section of Block 2913B, on February 3, 2025. The JV aims to evaluate the Albian-aged sandstones within the Marula fan complex.
The joint venture believes the Marula-1X well could unlock further exploration opportunities in the southern region, which is part of the Kudu source-rock kitchen. Additionally, by the end of 2025, the JV plans to drill the Olympe prospect on Block 2912, targeting Albian sands beneath a structural closure.
