As Reconnaissance Energy Africa reports a productive 2025 in its year-end corporate operational performance, the company is preparing to conduct a well test in Damara Fold Belt offshore Namibia.
“We are preparing to conduct a production test on Kavango West 1X, which will allow us to conduct a longer flow period and pressure buildup analysis to better calculate potential production rates and reserve estimates. Early planning suggests that we may test up to eight separate reservoir intervals of interest,” said Nick Steinsberger, Senior Vice President Drilling & Completions.
Unlike the usual process, the partners are prioritising production testing over a drill stem test to allow for more controlled testing of isolated intervals of interest. This way better addressed the operational challenges posed by a 2,000-m open hole section in adequately testing the entire gross Otavi reservoir at one time.
Production casing and testing equipment are being sourced before testing operations can be commenced in the first quarter of 2026. In a span of roughly two months, up to eight zones of interest will be evaluated.
Wireline logging from the Huttenberg and Elandshoek formations within the Upper Otavi Group have also indicated promising results. Well analysis from the Elandshoek sections shows 81 m of hydrocarbon fluorescence found in cuttings, a clear indicator of hydrocarbons. Indications of fracturing were pervasive based on well logs.
Also, rapid increases in gas readings after drilling connections indicated hydrocarbons flowing actively towards the wellbore.
“We have had an active and productive 2025 in which we advanced the Company on multiple strategic fronts. We completed drilling our second well in the Damara Fold Belt resulting in encountering of significant hydrocarbons, extended our acreage position into Angola at a low cost of entry and expanded our asset portfolio into offshore Gabon to help balance our investment risk profile. These actions set the Company up for several important milestones in 2026.
We are preparing for the production test at Kavango West 1X next year after only our second exploration well drilled in the Damara Fold Belt, a unique position to be in when exploring a new basin. Our teams are working on procuring the equipment needed for this test which is expected to commence operations by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
While recently visiting Namibia after our Kavango West 1X well results, the partnership group operated by ReconAfrica and including NAMCOR and BW Energy, had the privilege of meeting Her Excellency President Nandi-Ndaitwah. We are grateful for the President’s recognition of the significance of hydrocarbons encountered in the Kavango West well and how the partnership can help support onshore hydrocarbon development and the long-term energy supply for Namibia,” said Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO.
