Vaalco Energy encountered multiple hydrocarbon-bearing sands with its South Tchibala 1HB-ST well drilled from the Avouma platform in the Etame field offshore Gabon. The well struck 18 m of hydrocarbons in the Dentale D1 sand, which is analogous to the Deep Dentale producing field in North Tchibala with similar porosity and permeability. Another 15 m of hydrocarbons was intersected in the Dentale D9. The well will be completed in the D1 sand and was scheduled to be online in June, while the D9 will be cased for future completion. The well also penetrated a thin section of Gamba sand which will not be economically feasible to complete.
Current Etame production is fed through the recently extended FPSO Petroleo Nautipa. Success with the South Tchibala 1HB-ST potentially adds new future drilling locations in the Deep Dentale trend across the Etame block.