VAALCO Energy has announced encouraging operational advancements in its West African assets, highlighting successful drilling results in Gabon and confirmation of its operatorship in a key discovery offshore Côte d’Ivoire.
In Gabon, the company has successfully drilled, completed, and brought online the Etame 15H-ST development well within the Etame field’s 1V block.
The well encountered a 250 m lateral section of net pay in high-quality Gamba sands positioned near the reservoir top.
It has achieved a stabilised flow rate of approximately 2,000 gross barrels of oil per day (BOPD), with a 38% water cut, produced through a 42/64 choke and an electrical submersible pump (ESP) operating at 54 Hz.
This performance aligns closely with expectations derived from the earlier ET-15P pilot well.
VAALCO is actively managing the well to stabilise reservoir pressure and optimise long-term output.
The drilling rig has remained on the Etame platform, and in mid-February, it spudded a step-out exploration well targeting the West Etame (ET-14P) prospect.
This well, drilled from the S1 slot, carries a 57% chance of geological success and is anticipated to reach the target zone by mid-March.
Should it prove successful, the prospect could deliver significant additions to production and reserves by the end of 2026.
Turning to Côte d’Ivoire, VAALCO has been formally confirmed as operator of the Kossipo field on the offshore CI-40 block, holding a 60% working interest, with partner PetroCI retaining 40%.
The Kossipo field, originally discovered in 2002 by the Kossipo-1X well and appraised in 2019 by Kossipo-2A (which tested at over 7,000 BOPD), lies southwest of the producing Baobab field.
Recent ocean bottom node (OBN) seismic data has enhanced and de-risked VAALCO’s updated evaluation and development strategy.Independent estimates indicate gross 2C contingent resources of approximately 102 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE), with around 293 MMBOE in place.
The company anticipates completing a field development plan during the second half of 2026.
Additionally, the Baobab Ivorien FPSO (formerly MV10), currently positioned off the east coast of Africa, is expected to return to Côte d’Ivoire waters by late March, supporting resumed operations and future drilling on the block.
These updates underscore VAALCO’s focus on organic growth through targeted drilling and field development in its core African portfolio.
The company expressed optimism about enhancing production profiles and reserves in both regions
