Galp Energia has secured the services of the Santorini drillship from Eni for a single well exploration campaign in Namibian waters this quarter.
The vessel owned by Saipem, was previously engaged in Eni’s Baleine field development offshore Côte d’Ivoire, is now en route to Walvis Bay, Namibia.
According to OffshoreLinks Deepwater Rigs, the drillship, which has been operational under Eni since March 2022, is expected to arrive in Namibian waters by mid-October.
“Saipem’s Santorini drillship has completed its campaign on Eni’s Baleine field development offshore Ivory Coast and is now in transit to Walvis Bay, Namibia. Galp has reportedly secured a sublet from Eni for the Santorini, which will drill one well in Namibia this quarter,” the report read.
This comes as Galp Energia has invested approximately N$2.1 billion towards upstream projects in Namibia in the first six months of 2024.
During the six months, the Group made tangible and intangible investments amounting to N$10 billion (€564 million), of which upstream investments amounted to N$7.5 billion (€389 million).
Galp’s upcoming four-well campaign in the Mopane Complex marks a continuation of its exploration efforts in the region, following the successful conclusion of the Mopane campaign in April 2024.
During that campaign, Galp discovered oil at both the Mopane-1X and Mopane-2X wells.
The Santorini is a state-of-the-art drillship, known for its versatility in ultra-deepwater operations and its ability to work in a variety of harsh conditions.
It boasts a payload capacity of over 20,000 tonnes, which minimises the need for frequent supply vessel trips, significantly reducing operating costs.
With accommodations for 215 personnel and advanced well-control equipment, Santorini is well-suited for the demanding tasks required in the Mopane Complex.
