Vaalco Energy announces industry-first offshore Gabon production from the Dentale formation

Vaalco Energy recently announced that the North Tchibala 1-H well was brought online at a rate slightly in excess of 3,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

The well was drilled to a measured depth of approximately 11,160 feet, targeting the undeveloped Dentale reservoir. The Dentale formation is productive in fields onshore Gabon, but this well represents the first Dentale production for the industry from that horizon in the offshore waters of Gabon.

The North Tchibala 1-H well was initially brought on production utilizing an electrical submersible pump (ESP), but was subsequently allowed to produce naturally. The well is not producing any formation water or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and has a strong flowing tubing pressure in excess of 1,000 PSI. Vaalco plans to continue to produce the well without artificial lift while monitoring surface and down-hole pressures.

This is the second well drilled and placed on production at Vaalco's new Southeast Etame/North Tchibala platform located in approximately 260 feet of water offshore Gabon. The company is the operator of the Etame Marin permit area and owns a 28.1 percent working interest and a 24.4 percent net revenue interest. The Transocean Constellation II jackup rig is mobilizing over to the Avouma/South Tchibala platform to conduct workover operations to replace ESPs on three existing development wells, two of which are off production.