Reference is made to the stock exchange notice by BW Energy Limited on 24 August 2021 announcing an oil discovery at Hibiscus North in the Dussafu block offshore Gabon.
BW Energy has now concluded the drilling and the logging of the exploration well, Hibiscus North (DHBNM-1). The well is located in a separate structure, approximately 6 km north-northeast of the Hibiscus discovery in 115 metres of water depth. The well was drilled to a total depth of 3336 metres. During the drilling operations at Hibiscus North, oil-bearing reservoir was encountered in the Upper Gamba sandstone and in the deeper Dentale formation. Wireline logging operations and fluid samplings showed lower volumes of hydrocarbons than expected. Pending further analysis, the preliminary results indicate that the field could be incorporated into future development planning with a possible tie back to the Hibiscus Ruche development but with reserves below the lower end of the pre-drill resource estimate of potential 10 to 40 million barrels of oil.
The existing Hibiscus 2P gross recoverable reserves of 46.1 million barrels established by the Hibiscus well (DHIBM-1) and its appraisal sidetrack, drilled in 2019, remain unaffected and will form the core of the upcoming Hibiscus/Ruche development project. Planning for this next phase remains on track.
The Borr Norve Jack-up is now continuing to finalise drilling operations and the well will then be plugged and abandoned.
The Dussafu Block is 850 square km. BW Energy is operator and holds 73.5% interest in the Block. Panoro Energy holds 17.5% interest and the Gabonese Oil Company holds 9%.