Zorena Jantze
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. has announced the drilling of its second exploratory well in the Kavango Basin situated in the northeast of Namibia.
These first two wells are within one of five major sub-basins of the larger, more laterally extensive, Permian aged deep Kavango basin
Ndapewoshali Shapwanale, public relations officer at Recon Africa noted that the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has assigned a high-level team within his ministry, to which ReconAfrica will keep updated on the project.
Reflecting on rising concerns that the mining operations might disturb the ecosystem of the Kavango basin which is home to a rich plethora of fauna and flora, Shapwanale noted that in keeping with the Company’s policy of implementing environmental best practices, ReconAfrica is using the most advanced drilling fluid available to protect the environment – a water-based system.
“This Polyamine system, provided by Valence Drilling Fluids, uses freshwater as the base fluid. The plant-based products added to the base fluid are created through an organic process and are biodegradable. Not only is this water-based drilling fluid 100 percent safe to the environment, but it provides ideal samples (cuttings and core) to be utilized to determine a range of petroleum properties and locations for future exploration and production wells,” she explained.
Shapwanale further emphasized that ReconAfrica is committed to the adherence of the laws, rules, and regulations of Namibia and places a strong emphasis on hiring locally and nationally whenever possible.
To date, ReconAfrica has employed more than 200 Namibian residents in such roles as electricians; rig floor-hands; project managers; material-technical specialists (construction, environment, wildlife surveying, water, and hydrology); health” Shapwanale said.
With the first string of casing set and cemented in the 6-1 well, the Company owned and operated 1000 HP rig (Jarvie-1) is drilling ahead to a target depth of 3,800 meters (12,500 feet).
The 6-1 well is designed to evaluate the petroleum systems discovered in the first well (6-2) in an area of maximum thickness.
