French energy major TotalEnergies has started drilling the ultra-deepwater Venus-1X exploration well located offshore Namibia, using a Maersk Drilling-owned drillship.

As reported in November 2021, the Maersk Voyager rig departed Luanda, Angola on 14 November ahead of drilling operations on the TotalEnergies-operated well off Namibia.

The Venus-1X offshore exploration well is located in Namibia Block 2913B (PEL 56). TotalEnergies is the operator of the offshore exploration block with a 40 per cent interest. Its partners are Impact Oil and Gas with a 20 per cent interest, QatarEnergy holds a 30 per cent interest, and NAMCOR, the Namibian state oil company, holds a 10 per cent interest.

The Venus spud was announced on Wednesday by Impact Oil and Gas, a privately-owned, African-focused, exploration company. According to the company, the well is being drilled in 3,000m water depth by the Maersk Voyager drillship.

The well is targeting a large basin floor fan system with significant undiscovered petroleum initially in place that has been identified using 3D seismic data.

Siraj Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Impact, commented: “This is an exciting moment for Impact and our shareholders. Impact, together with our partners in the Government of Namibia, have been working to mature and drill the Venus prospect since 2014. Venus-1X is a world-class, basin opening well which, if successful, could be transformative for Namibia.”

Petroleum Exploration Licence 56, Block 2913B, is located offshore southern Namibia and covers approximately 8,215km² in water depths up to 3,000 metres.