UK-based energy major Shell has confirmed the discovery of hydrocarbons in an exploration well offshore Namibia, reported Reuters.

Following the successful drilling of its fourth exploratory well, Lesedi-1X, Shell said that the data verified the presence of hydrocarbons.

Shell added that "further evaluation is required to determine development potential".

According to a filing with the government earlier this year, Shell and its partners QatarEnergy and National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) intend to drill two further wells in Namibia by the third quarter of 2023.

The Namibian Government also granted Shell's request to drill an additional ten exploration and appraisal wells there, a Shell representative said.

In the PEL-39 licence, Shell has reported discoveries in the Graff, La Rona, and Jonker wells.

Shell discovered oil in its Jonker-1X exploratory well in March of this year. The well was drilled to a total depth of 6,168m in 2,210m of water.

Located nearly 250km off the southern Namibian coast, the PEL-39 exploration licence covers an area of approximately 12,000km².

With a 45% working interest, Shell is the operator of PEL-39, QatarEnergy holds a 45% stake in the block and Namibia's national oil company NAMCOR holds the remaining 10%.

Citing Barclays, the news agency said these wells (Graff, La Rona, and Jonker) are thought to hold a combined 1.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

This February, France’s TotalEnergies also discovered oil offshore Namibia in block 2913B, in the Orange basin.