Azinam becomes operator of South Africa offshore block

Following completion of the transaction, Azinam and licence partners will drill up-dip of the A-J1 discovery, targeting 349 million bbl (Best Estimate Gross Prospective Resources). The Block 2B area has the potential to provide the first major oil production offshore South Africa, and the first production in the Orange Basin.

Block 2B is located in the Orange Basin and covers 3604 km² off the west coast of South Africa 300 km north of Cape Town with water depths ranging from 50 to 200 m. Oil was discovered and tested on the block by Soekor in the A-J1 borehole drilled in 1988. Thick reservoir sandstones were intersected between 2985 m and 3350 m. The well was tested and flowed 191 barrels of oil per day of 36° API oil from a 10 m sandstone interval at about 3250 m. The 686 km2 2013 3D seismic data confirmed the up-dip prospectivity of the A-J1 discovery and significant further prospectivity.

Under the terms of the farm-out agreement with Africa Energy, Azinam will acquire a 50% participating interest in Block 2B. Upon completion Azinam will become Operator of Block 2B on behalf of the joint venture partners. Africa Energy will retain a 27.5% participating interest in the block. Simultaneously, Panoro Energy will become a 12.5% participating interest holder on the licence. Crown Energy AB indirectly holds the remaining 10% participating interest.

Daniel McKeown, Managing Director of Azinam, commented: “With this transaction, Azinam is positioned to deliver the first major oil production offshore South Africa. With A-J1 having flowed oil to surface and with the benefit of a significant database of well and seismic information, Azinam believes that Block 2B has the potential to provide South Africa with its first major offshore oil production. This transaction will allow for a well to be drilled to test the wider potential of the A-J1 discovery. Azinam and partners are targeting 349 million bbl (Best Estimate of Prospective Resources).

In 1988 the A-J1 well offshore South Africa encountered significant quantities of oil in 150 m water depth and only 25 km from shore. With the benefit of new 3D seismic, we can see that A-J1 drilled the down-dip section of a potentially much larger oil accumulation in a number of prospects. With today’s announcement, the Block 2B partners can move forward to test this considerable potential via a 4Q20 well. With all elements of the petroleum system proven and with contingent resources in place, the well has a high chance of demonstrating the commercial potential of Block 2B. Confirmation of a significant oil field on Block 2B, in a benign ocean setting and close to shore, represents a significant opportunity for the Republic of South Africa and the Block 2B licence holders to deliver the first major oil production offshore South Africa. Azinam is part of the Seacrest Capital Group of companies. Also backed by Petroleum GeoServices ASA, Azinam has a strong exploration heritage. Together with other Seacrest Capital Group – backed companies, Azinam has significant shared corporate experience in drilling offshore exploration wells to the highest international safety and performance standards.”

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/offshore-and-subsea/25022020/azinam-becomes-operator-of-south-africa-offshore-block/