Vaalco Energy has started its 2021/2022 drilling campaign offshore Gabon with the Etame 8H-ST well spud.
Vaalco said Monday it had recently deployed a Borr Drilling jack-up rig at the Etame platform and started activities on the Etame 8H-ST development well which is expected to be completed in January with production expected later in the first quarter of 2022.
This sidetrack of an existing well is targeting existing Gamba hydrocarbons in the Etame field that have not previously been produced by prior wells, and is the first well of a four-well campaign, Vaalco said.
George Maxwell, Vaalco's Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Enhancing our production, reducing our costs and extending the economic life at Etame has been the driving force for Vaalco's continued success. This summer we secured a jack-up rig for our 2021/2022 drilling campaign and began drilling our first well, the Etame 8H-ST, this week.
We believe that executing another successful drilling campaign with the goal of adding material production and reserves will significantly improve our size and scale, further enhancing our ability to execute on our accretive future growth initiatives.
The objective of the drilling campaign is to increase production by 7,000 to 8,000 barrels of oil per day gross, which would have a material impact on Vaalco's net production and cashflow given it’s 63.6% interest in the licence. We are confident we can achieve these objectives given our drilling track record at Etame. We are excited to get our next drilling campaign underway and will continue to provide updates throughout the program.”