Total will continue with its exploration in offshore SA
A ‘leopard’, a ‘catfish’ and ‘bullfrog’ are mooted as ways to secure South Africa’s energy needs.
The leopard, or rather the Luiperd-1, is the next well that will be drilled 175km off the southern coast of South Africa by French oil company Total. The company made the Brulpadda gas condensate discovery in Block 11B/12B of the Outeniqua Basin last year.
Total had planned to drill new wells in the area this year but in May the oil major and Norwegian offshore drilling contractor Odfjell Drilling, whose drilling rig ‘the Deepsea Stavanger’ was contracted for the multi-well drilling programme, agreed to pause these plans for an indefinite period because of ongoing restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The rig was initially expected to be deployed to South Africa in the first quarter and now Canadian oil company Africa Energy has announced that the rig is making its way from Norway to South Africa to begin drilling work on Luiperd-1 from September.
Energy mix
Although the exact reserves of Luiperd-1 are far from being determined, the discovery may increase the viability of SA’s ambitions to have a sustainable energy mix.
Read more article on Moneyweb News