TotalEnergies is pursuing environmental clearance to drill up to seven wells in the Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB) offshore South Africa’s west coast, reported Reuters, citing documents.
The French oil and gas company’s unit TotalEnergies EP South Africa (TEEPSA) is targeting new exploration areas in the southern part of the DWOB block.
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The DWOB is located around 200km offshore in very deep water between Port Nolloth and Saldanha Bay.
Oil majors such as Shell are turning their attention to South Africa’s west coast near the Namibian border, where significant discoveries in the Orange Basin indicate the possibility of additional finds further south in the basin’s extension.
TEEPSA, which is the operator, previously received authorisation in 2023 to explore the northern part of the DWOB.
The exploration area of interest spans nearly 15,000km².
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By GlobalDataSLR, an independent environmental consultancy, has been tasked with conducting an environmental impact assessment.
This assessment is part of the regulatory requirements before TotalEnergies can begin exploration activities.
TotalEnergies did not provide comment on the development.
Exploration efforts offshore South Africa have faced challenges from court cases initiated by environmental activists.
These activists are concerned about the impact of fossil fuels on fishing communities’ livelihoods and the broader environment.
In a separate development, TotalEnergies signed an agreement with QatarEnergy to sell its stake in two blocks in Namibia’s Orange Basin.
The acquisition includes a 5.25% interest in block 2913B (PEL 56) and a 4.695% interest in block 2912 (PEL 91).
This move increases QatarEnergy’s stake in block 2913B to 35.25% and in block 2912 to 33.025%.
TotalEnergies will maintain a 45.25% stake in block 2913B and 42.48% in block 2912.
In July, TotalEnergies chose to exit several offshore blocks in South Africa, including Block 11B/12B, which contains the country’s largest gas discoveries, Brulpadda and Luiperd.
Despite their potential to aid South Africa’s energy transition, TotalEnergies deemed them too difficult and economically unfeasible to develop.
