Oil rig from Ghana to drill Namibia’s first well

An oil rig owned by Transocean and used for Ghana oil works is heading to Namibia.

Brazil’s HRT Participações em Petróleo S.A. on January 15, 2013 confirmed that it has received from Transocean the semi-submersible drilling-rig Marianas at offshore Ghana.

“The rig will be in transit to Namibian waters for the next three weeks and, then, she will undergo mandatory maintenance for the following 21 days, before starting HRT’s drilling campaign in Walvis and Orange sedimentary basins,” HRT announced.

The company expects the rig to be on location to “start drilling the first well” in Namibia, in the Wingat Prospect, in Walvis basin at HRT’s Petroleum Exploration License-23 (Pel-23) by the end of first quarter of 2013.

According HRT CEO, Marcio R. Mello, the rig is arriving within the planned time frame to start one of the most expected and exciting drilling campaigns in Southern offshore West Africa.

Namibia’s Energy Minister, Isak Katali told the country’s parliament in July 2011 that an estimated 11 billion barrels in oil reserves have been found off the country’s coast, with the first production planned within four years, reports the AFP.

The reserves is said to have put Namibia on par with neighbouring Angola which has about 13 billion barrels of oil reserves.

By Ekow Quandzie