BW Energy Secures Advanced Rig for First Kudu Field Drilling in 18 Years
BW Energy has contracted the sixth-generation Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig for drilling the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu license offshore Namibia, marking the first drilling activity on the field since 2007.
The Norwegian oil producer, operating with a 95% working interest alongside NAMCOR E&P’s 5% carried interest, will commence drilling in the Orange Basin during the second half of 2025. The operation forms part of a rig-sharing arrangement with Rhino Resources, providing access to an experienced services team with proven Orange Basin expertise.
Located approximately 130 kilometers off Namibia’s southwest coast, the Kudu license covers 4,567 square kilometers in 170 meters water depth. The field, discovered in 1974 with the Kudu-1 well, has been delineated by seven subsequent wells, with Kharas representing the ninth well on the Greater Kudu structure.
BW Energy’s decision to proceed follows acquisition of 5,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic data in 2023 to identify potential upside targets, supported by increased exploration activity and recent discoveries in the vicinity. The company is developing an updated development strategy incorporating a modified semi-submersible drilling rig as a floating production unit to streamline timelines and reduce capital investments.
The Deepsea Mira, delivered in 2018 and based on Moss Maritime CS60E design, can operate in water depths up to 3,000 meters in both benign and harsh environments.
Sources: worldoil.com, offshore-energy.biz, offshore-mag.com, africaoilgasreport.com, namibiaoilandgas.com
