Shell Namibia Upstream, a subsidiary of UK-based energy giant Shell, has found more oil in the Orange Basin off the coast of Namibia.
Shell and its partners, Qatar Energy and NAMCOR, announced encouraging exploration results from Merlin-1X An exploration well in Petroleum Exploration License No. 0039 (PEL 0039), offshore Namibia, strengthens their assessment of this Orange Basin area.
Drilled on 8 April 2026, the 10th well drilled in the Shell-operated licence, penetrated the Konyasyan Play, and provided what is described as the most promising subsurface results to date in PEL 0039, indicating good reservoir quality with light oil and limited associated gas, compared to previous results within the licence.
Eugene OakberryShell’s Executive Vice President, Exploration, Strategy and Portfolio, commented: “These are encouraging results that add to our understanding of the potential of the Orange Basin. We are advancing this opportunity through a disciplined, data-driven approach to establishing commercial viability, while focusing our investments on material, competitive and resilient options within our portfolio.”
The results are seen to enhance the operator’s understanding of the basin, and support ongoing evaluation of the resource and its commercial potential via licensing. Further drilling is being considered for later in 2026 as part of a broader exploratory appraisal programme.
Saad Sharida Al-KaabiThe Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of Qatar Energy Company, confirmed: “We are delighted with this discovery, which follows three previous discovery announcements in Namibia.
“These results represent an important step that will further enhance confidence in the Orange Basin as a nation A world-class emerging hydrocarbon province It is consistent with Qatar Energy’s strategy to expand its international portfolio through high-impact exploration.
coincidence hired Northern Ocean Mira deep sea The rig, operated by Odfjell Drilling, is for offshore drilling work in Namibia, with a scheduled start date of April 2026. The contract covers one fixed well and includes one optional well.
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