BW Energy has contracted the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig to drill the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu licence (PPL003) offshore Namibia, in the Orange Basin.
The drilling campaign is set to commence in the second half of 2025.
The company is undertaking the project in partnership with NAMCOR E&P, a subsidiary of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia.
BW Energy holds a 95% operating interest in the Kudu production licence, while NAMCOR E&P retains a 5% carried interest.
BW Energy said the rig deal forms part of a rig-sharing agreement previously announced and managed by Northern Ocean Ltd., with Rhino Resources Ltd. also participating.
“BW Energy, together with NAMCOR E&P, is pleased to announce that it has contracted the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig for the drilling of the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu licence (PPL003) offshore Namibia in the Orange Basin, scheduled for the second half of 2025,” the company said.
The contract, signed by BW Kudu Ltd., secures access to a locally stationed rig and a team with experience in the Orange Basin. The project is also expected to benefit from a high level of local content.
The Kudu gas development forms part of BW Energy’s broader strategy to target proven offshore reserves using phased, lower-risk developments. The company said it is aiming to shorten time to first production and reduce capital expenditure by utilising existing infrastructure across its international portfolio, which includes assets in Gabon, Brazil and Namibia.
At the start of 2025, BW Energy’s total estimated net 2P and 2C reserves and resources stood at 599 million barrels of oil equivalent.
