UK energy major BP has confirmed an oil and gas discovery at the Volans-1X exploration well in Namibia’s Orange Basin.
Drilled under Petroleum Exploration Licence 85 (PEL85) and operated by Rhino Resources, the Volans-1X well reached a true vertical depth subsea of 4,497.5 metres.
The well penetrated Upper Cretaceous formations and encountered 26 metres of net pay in gas condensate-bearing reservoirs, demonstrating strong petrophysical characteristics and no water contact.
According to BP, initial laboratory analysis indicates a condensate-to-gas ratio exceeding 140 barrels per million standard cubic feet, with a liquid density of around 40° API gravity.
The company noted that the data is undergoing further evaluation to confirm the potential scale of the find.
BP holds a 50 per cent stake in Azule Energy, a joint venture with Eni, which partners with Namibia’s national oil company NAMCOR and Korres Investments in the Orange Basin.
The discovery represents the third major hydrocarbon find in 2025 for the Azule Energy partnership, following the Capricornus-1X light oil discovery offshore Namibia and the Gajajeira-01 gas find in Angola.
The Volans-1X success adds to BP’s expanding exploration record, with 11 discoveries announced this year across global basins, including the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil’s Santos Basin.
Earlier this year, Eni confirmed the Capricornus-1X discovery drilled by the Noble Venturer drill-ship, which encountered 38 metres of net oil pay in the Lower Cretaceous with favourable reservoir properties and no water contact.