The announcement was made last Friday by ANPG and Azule Energy. "The National Agency of Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG) and the Contracting Group of Block 1/14, operated by Azule Energy (35 percent), in association with Equinor (30 percent), Sonangol E&P (25 percent), and Acrep S.A. (10 percent), announce the discovery of gas in the Gajajeira-01 exploration well, located offshore in the Lower Congo Basin," reads an ANPG statement that VerAngola had access to.
The well, drilled on April 1 of this year, "at a water depth of 95 meters and approximately 60 kilometers offshore, encountered sandstones containing gas and condensate in one of the Lower Oligocene targets, called LO100."
"Preliminary results and fluid samples indicate several reservoirs with good mobility. Initial assessments suggest that gas volumes in the area may exceed 1 trillion cubic feet, with up to 100 million barrels of associated condensate," the statement said.
Furthermore, the results also confirm the "presence of a hydrocarbon system, opening up new exploration opportunities in the area." Therefore, Azule Energy will continue to "evaluate the full potential of the Gajajeira-01 well discovery and, together with the partners in Block 1/14, determine the best path forward for potential development."
Regarding this discovery, Azule Energy's CEO considered it a "landmark moment for gas exploration" in the country.
"This is a landmark moment for gas exploration in Angola. The Gajajeira-01 well is the first dedicated gas exploration well in the country, and its success reinforces our confidence in the potential of the Lower Congo Basin. We are proud to contribute to Angola's long-term energy development with a focus on sustainability and energy security," said Adriano Mongini.
Paulino Jerónimo, Chairman of the Board of Directors (PCA) of ANPG, described the new discoveries as a "motivating factor."
"The new discoveries are a motivating factor in our commitment to attracting private investment in the sector for the development and monetization of natural gas. It is an important resource in strengthening access to energy resources and domestic consumption, in addition to its significant importance in boosting the petrochemical industry and fertilizer production in our country," said Paulino Jerónimo, quoted in the statement.
"The first section was safely drilled using advanced formation assessment and control tools to evaluate reservoir quality and fluid characteristics, prioritizing operational safety," the ANPG statement states, adding that drilling operations are continuing at the aforementioned well, "with the last Lower Oligocene interval LO300 planned as the next target."
Also noteworthy in the oil and gas field is the inauguration of a training center for drilling, completion, and well control.
The inauguration ceremony took place last Friday in Luanda. According to a statement from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, which VerAngola had access to, the Training Center for Drilling, Completion, and Well Control, affiliated with the National Petroleum Institute (INP), was inaugurated by the Ministers of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, and Public Administration, Labor, and Social Security, Diamantino Azevedo and Teresa Dias, respectively.
"Of international standard, the infrastructure will strengthen the technical capabilities of the national oil sector and train up to 800 professionals per year," the statement states, adding that "among the main technological aspects, the center's use of virtual reality (VR) stands out, allowing immersive simulations of operational environments on conventional and submerged rigs."
Furthermore, the infrastructure also has "a certified simulator laboratory capable of evaluating, validating, and certifying skills in drilling and well control, aligned with the rigorous standards of the IWCF (International Well Control Forum) and the IADC (International Association of Drilling Contractors)."
On the occasion, Diamantino Azevedo stated that the ministry he heads "will continue to contribute to economic diversification, maximizing every barrel of oil we produce and, thus, improving the quality of life of our populations."
Teresa Dias praised the importance of the initiative "for employability and for strengthening technical and professional training in Angola, and considered that it should be supported within the scope of public policies."
In turn, INP's director-general, Joaquim Alegria, highlighted the "impact of the new unit on strengthening national technical expertise," considering the infrastructure an "added value for professionals and companies in the sector, given that well control certification was previously only obtained abroad, which implied high costs."
Quoted in the note, he said that it is now possible to obtain this certification in Brazil: "Today, we can obtain this certification in the country, with the same international requirements."
According to the director, the center is "capable of training and certifying professionals at various levels of work on drilling rigs."
Another milestone achieved last week in this area was the fact that ANPG and its partners increased the production period in Block 15. According to another note from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, seen by VerAngola, ANPG and the Block 15 Contracting Group (comprising ExxoMobil, the operator, and the consortium comprising Azule Energy, Equinor, and Sonangol) signed, last Thursday, an addendum to the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) in Block 15, which aims to increase oil production from 2032 to 2037.
"The parties agreed to increase investment by approximately three million dollars, which will allow for an increase in oil reserves of around 200 million barrels," the note reads.
