VAALCO Energy strikes out offshore Angola

HOUSTON -- VAALCO Energy’s post-salt Kindele-1 well, its first exploration well on Block 5 offshore Angola, was drilled to a total vertical depth of approximately 1,829 m, the company confirmed Monday. 

The objective reservoir, the Mucanzo sand formation in the Pinda Group section, was found to be water-bearing, and the well is in the process of being plugged and abandoned.  

Given the results of the well, earlier plans to drill to 2,250 m for geologic and geophysical correlation will not be undertaken. 

Steve Guidry, chairman and CEO, commented, "The well targeted a three-way fault closure where the fault appears to have not provided the required lateral seal. The Mucanzo target sands were present and of a very high quality. We did find non-commercial hydrocarbon shows higher in the Pinda Group, in the overlying Catambela formation, indicating we were in a proven hydrocarbon system. Overall, we remain optimistic about the additional prospects and leads, both pre- and post-salt, on the block."