BW Energy has announced that its Kharas-1 appraisal well, drilled within the Kudu licence offshore Namibia, has reached its total planned depth, intersecting multiple geological formations.
The well was designed to intersect several targets within a single borehole, providing valuable geological data across the broader petroleum system, although it did not enable detailed optimisation of individual formations.
Preliminary findings from the drilling programme indicate the presence of hydrocarbons with reservoir potential in several intervals.
Early analysis suggests that the K1 interval may contain hydrocarbons wetter than dry gas, marking a noteworthy discovery.
Additionally, a hydrocarbon migration front has been detected, confirming ongoing petroleum system activity in the region.
Following the drilling, BW Energy has initiated wireline operations aimed at further assessing reservoir quality, fluid type, and pressure characteristics.
The outcome of these ongoing wireline assessments will guide the company’s decisions on subsequent appraisal strategies and the next well location within the Kudu licence.
BW Energy emphasised that a more detailed appraisal campaign will be necessary to fully evaluate the individual targets identified by the well.
This phased approach aligns with BW Energy’s strategic focus on low-risk phased developments targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs, which allows for access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and investment costs.
BW Energy holds a 95 per cent operating interest in the Kudu field, which is located in the shallow water offshore Namibia in the Orange Basin.
The company’s asset portfolio also includes the Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, the BM-ES-23 block, and the Maromba field in Brazil.
Additionally, BW Energy holds a 20 per cent non-operating stake in Petroleum Exploration Licence 73 in Namibia and approximately a 7 per cent stake in Reconnaissance Energy Africa.
Earlier in July 2025, BW Energy, in collaboration with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia E&P, announced securing a contract for the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig, which was used to drill the Kharas-1 well.
This partnership further strengthens BW Energy’s operational capability in the region.
The Kudu field was originally discovered in 1974 and has been delineated by subsequent wells, but Kharas-1 represents the first new appraisal drilling activity in 17 years, highlighting renewed efforts to unlock the field’s hydrocarbon potential.
The appraisal campaign’s findings will be pivotal in framing the future development of the Kudu licence, potentially contributing significant resources to Namibia’s offshore energy sector.
