Chevron Namibia Exploration I Limited (CNEL) has applied for an Environmental Clearance Certificate in Namibia to conduct offshore exploration activities in Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 82, situated in the Walvis Basin.
The proposed programme covers Blocks 2112B and 2212A, located between 72 km and 300 km off the Namibian coast, in water depths ranging from 200 to 2,500 metres.
CNEL plans to drill up to five exploration wells and five appraisal wells, alongside vertical seismic profiling, well testing, plugging and abandonment.
According to the application, the first well on the Gemsbok Prospect could be drilled during the 2026/2027 period.
CNEL has however stated it only intends to drill one well within the 2026–2027 timeframe.
In January, Chevron announced that its first well in the Orange Basin had not encountered commercial hydrocarbon reserves.
The following month, the company finalised the acquisition of an 80% interest and operatorship in PEL 82 from Custos Energy.
Custos retained a 10% stake in the licence, while the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) holds the remaining 10%.
The Walvis Basin, located north of the prolific Orange Basin, has become a key focus area for international oil companies following a series of significant discoveries by Shell, TotalEnergies and Galp.
