Rhino Resources has announced the completion of drilling of the Sagittarius 1-X well at the PEL85 license in the Orange Basin, offshore Namibia, confirming the presence of a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir.

The well was spudded on 18 December 2024 using Noble's Noble Venturer drillship and reached its total depth on 6 February 2025.

Rhino Resources owns a 42.5% interest in the PEL85 license and serves as the operator while Azule Energy Exploration Angola holds 42.5%, NAMCOR Exploration and Production has 10% interest and Korres Investments holds the remaining 5%.

The Sagittarius 1-X well targeted upper cretaceous formations and intersected a hydrocarbon reservoir with no observed water contact.

The company conducted intensive wireline logging operations, which facilitated the collection of hydrocarbon samples and sidewall cores.

Further analysis will be carried out in laboratories to confirm fluid and reservoir properties.

The Noble Venturer drillship has been relocated to commence drilling of the second well in the programme, named Capricornus, which aims to test a different geological fairway.

Rhino Resources CEO Travis Smithard said: “We are pleased to have safely and successfully completed the drilling of the first exploration well in our programme on PEL 85. The hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir encountered is evidence for the effectiveness of charge, although further assessment will be required by Rhino and the PEL 85 JV [joint venture] partners to evaluate the results of the well.

“Our attention now turns to the second target in the programme, which is the Capricornus prospect, a NE-SW trending channel system. The Capricornus-1X well is due to be spud within the next 24 hours and is estimated to take 47 days to drill.”

The drilling project was managed by drilling managers from Exceed Energy, alongside Halliburton and Noble Corporation.