The Portuguese oil and gas firm Galp has awarded the Dutch company Fugro a contract to conduct an environmental and geophysical survey offshore Namibia.
“Known for its remote location, challenging conditions and ultra-deep water, this site is key to future energy operations in the region. Fugro’s advanced technology and expertise in marine geophysical and environmental surveys ensured efficient and accurate data collection, enabling Galp to make informed decisions for safe energy operations in the region,” Fugro said.
With fieldwork completed earlier this month, the survey reached depths of 2000 meters.
The Fugro Venturer, a geophysical vessel, collected sediment samples for environmental and chemical analysis before an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) captured seabed video footage.
Additionally, Fugro acquired in situ full ocean depth water profiles and water samples to measure the current biodiversity. The Geo-data collected through this survey will support the identification of potentially sensitive habitats, advance knowledge of remote seamounts, and contribute to informed project planning and resource management.
Furthermore, the geophysical survey will provide insights into the underwater landscape, ensuring the safe movement and operation of offshore assets within the designated area, Fugro said.
“Our expertise in deep-water surveying and identifying protected habitats supports sustainable and efficient offshore energy developments while minimizing negative impacts on the marine environment. Fugro remains committed to the preservation of the environment, and this survey is an essential step towards achieving this goal,” said Fugro’s Commercial Director for Africa Rob Hawkins.
Galp, is the operator of Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 83 in Namibia’s Orange Basin and has announced that it will start drilling the first of two exploration wells by the end of 2023.
This comes as Galp has signed a N$911 million (US$50 million) contract with SFL Corporation for the semi-submersible rig Hercules.
Galp operates PEL 83 with an 80% interest, while Namibia’s National Petroleum Corporation has 10%, and Custos Energy, half-owned by Sintana, has a 10% stake.
PEL 83 is situated north of PEL 39, which is home to Shell’s basin opening discoveries at Graff-1, La Rona-1, and Jonker-1.
It is also situated north and west of PEL 56, where TotalEnergies announced its giant oil discovery at Venus-1. Both Shell and Total continue to progress exploration and appraisal activities on their blocks.
Businessman Knowledge Katti has an interest through his company, Custos Energy, a Namibian independent oil and gas exploration company focused on attracting investment and expertise to the Namibian offshore industry.
