BW Energy has announced that recent appraisal drilling at the Dussafu field offshore Gabon has identified commercial oil volumes, with an estimated combined gross recovery of approximately 8–9 million barrels (mbbl).
The company stated that the two appraisal wells, 10P2 and 10P1, encountered oil and confirmed sufficient reservoir quality to support further production development.
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BW Energy holds a 73.5% operating interest in the Dussafu licence. Panoro Energy has a 17.5% stake and the Gabon Oil Company holds the remaining 9%.
The 10P2 appraisal well found a 30m oil column in the Gamba reservoir at a structural level matching pre-drill forecasts.
Evaluation using wireline logging and pressure testing indicated that the reservoir features good porosity and permeability.
Based on these results, the operator expects that a future production well from this location could deliver initial gross output exceeding 5,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), similar to performance from earlier MaBoMo phase one wells.
BW Energy further noted that the anticipated payback period for the new well would be less than a year, estimating incremental recovery at 6mbbl gross.
The 10P1 appraisal well, meanwhile, intersected a 16m oil column in a separate accumulation.
Formation evaluation showed that this zone also contains moveable oil and sufficient reservoir quality for development with another production well.
The timing of this second well will be determined in line with the wider Dussafu drilling schedule, which includes activity related to the forthcoming Bourdon phase one programme.
Drilling operations are now progressing to the existing MaBoMo facility.
BW Energy plans to replace an electrical submersible pump in one of the Hibiscus wells before drilling four new MaBoMo phase two production wells and an additional well at the 10P2 site.
Each is expected to deliver around 5,000bopd gross at start-up, and with wells brought online sequentially, peak phase two production could reach 20,000bopd gross.
BW Energy CEO Carl Arnet said: “The discovery of oil in both appraisal wells is another strong result at Dussafu and brings our track record as operator to 13 successful exploration and appraisal wells out of 14.
“Our decision to drill the appraisal wells ahead of the production wells has paid off. We have proved additional volumes and can add at least one high-value, fast-track well with a short payback time to the current programme.
“With our recent licence extension, we have significant runway to continue growing production in this highly prospective area for years to come.”
Subsequent activity includes a Tortue field infill well and the Bourdon phase one development, where first oil is planned for the first quarter of 2028.
Walt Whitman and additional Bourdon appraisal drilling are pencilled in for 2028.
Collectively, these initiatives support a long-term gross production target of 30,000–45,000bopd from Dussafu.
The company recently secured $208m in project-level lease financing for the Akoum wellhead platform planned for the Bourdon field offshore Gabon.
