Deepsea Mira to drill for Kudu gas

BW Energy secures rig for gas appraisal campaign
The DeepSea Mira will remain in Namibian waters after the current Rhino Resources campaign ends.
Augetto Graig
  • 18 Hours Ago
BW Energy, in partnership with NAMCOR E&P, has announced the contracting of the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig to drill an offshore appraisal well on the Kudu licence (PPL003) in the Orange Basin. The drilling campaign is scheduled for the second half of 2025.

In a statement issued by the Norwegian operator of Namibia’s long-awaited Kudu gas project, it was confirmed: “The agreement is part of a rig-sharing arrangement previously announced by the rig’s operator, Northern Ocean, with Rhino Resources. The contract, entered into by BW Kudu, provides access to an in-country rig and an experienced services team with a strong track record in the Orange Basin, supported by a high level of local content.”

BW Kudu is a wholly owned subsidiary of BW Energy, which signed a Farm-In and Carry Agreement with the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) in 2021. This agreement increased BW Kudu’s working interest in the offshore Kudu licence from 56% to 95%. NAMCOR retains the remaining 5% interest, with the option to acquire an additional 5% after first gas. NAMCOR E&P is a subsidiary of Namibia’s national oil company.



Further drilling plans

BW Kudu is also in the process of acquiring environmental clearance to drill up to four appraisal wells in the cold, deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean, two of which are planned before the end of 2025, and a further two in 2026.

SLR Consulting is leading the application process and submitted the final Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report in April, alongside the required scoping documents. The application for an environmental clearance certificate has already been lodged.

Following the successful completion of a drilling campaign for TotalEnergies, including the Tamboti-1X and Marula-1X exploration wells, the managers of the Deepsea Mira, Odfjell Drilling, opted to delay the rig’s departure from Namibian waters. The rig was moved to Walvis Bay to await further contracts.

That decision proved worthwhile. In June, Northern Ocean signed a contract with a subsidiary of Rhino Resources, securing a deal worth approximately N$740 million (US$40 million). The contract covers one firm well for Rhino, another for an undisclosed operator, and three optional wells. Based on the latest announcement, BW Kudu now appears to be the second operator.



Joint venture

Drilling for Rhino Resources is set to commence by 1 August, targeting the Volans prospect with the Volans-1X exploration well. This well is part of Rhino’s PEL85 joint venture, which includes partners Azule Energy, NAMCOR, and Korres Investments. The decision to drill Volans-1X follows promising seismic calibration results between the Capricornus and Volans prospects.

According to Northern Ocean’s announcement on 8 July, the firm portion of the contract is expected to run for 112 days.

Rhino CEO Travis Smithard commented: “We are pleased to partner with Northern Ocean and utilise the Deepsea Mira rig for the drilling of the Volans-1X exploration well. We look forward to collaborating with our service partners Northern Ocean, Exceed, and Halliburton, to ensure the safe and successful execution of this exciting well. The strategic contracting of the Deepsea Mira, an in-country rig of opportunity with high local content, further demonstrates our commitment to Namibian upliftment and our continued investment in developing Namibia’s upstream capabilities.”

Aside from third-party service providers onboard, the Deepsea Mira features a Namibian crew contingent of 41, out of a total crew of 180.

Northern Ocean CEO Arne Jacobsen was also quoted: “This agreement ensures that the Deepsea Mira continues operating in Namibia following its successful campaign with Total. It also reflects the substantial local content Northern Ocean has developed, strongly supported by the Namibian government. Notably, Northern Ocean, together with its operator Odfjell Drilling, remains the only drilling contractor with continuous operations and presence in Namibia over the past two years.”