MEL Oil and Gas Exploration (MELN), a subsidiary of Monitor Exploration Limited and operator of the PEL 93 Joint Venture in the Owambo Basin, has contracted South Africa–based Xcalibur to conduct an airborne magnetic, radiometric and scalar gravity survey over part of PEL 93.
The survey marks the final phase of data acquisition before the Joint Venture begins drilling in late 2026. It will be integrated with earlier geological and geophysical datasets, including a 200-kilometre 2D seismic survey completed in 2024, to help refine the location of drilling targets.
Data acquisition is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with processed and interpreted results expected by the end of February 2026.
The findings will provide the final inputs required for selecting drilling locations as the PEL 93 Joint Venture advances towards its first exploration well in the fourth quarter of 2026.
“The survey is the final element to be integrated with existing geological and geophysical datasets, including the 2024 2D seismic survey (200 km), to select locations for our drilling programme which is anticipated to commence in the last quarter of 2026,” the company said.
Preparations for the survey began between June and July 2025 and included extensive local community engagement, as well as an amendment to the Environmental Clearance Certificate to permit airborne gravity operations.
Xcalibur will deploy a single-engine Air Tractor aircraft equipped with its advanced XMAG system, covering roughly 6,000 line kilometres.
The aircraft will also operate the iCORUS system, a lightweight, high-precision airborne gravity gradiometer and gravimeter with an accuracy of about 1 mGal (RMS), designed to withstand flight turbulence and accelerations of up to 20 g.
Additional onboard equipment will include an Airborne Magnetometer, Gamma Ray Spectrometer, GPS Navigation and Positioning Equipment, Attitude Sensor and Digital Data Acquisition System (XDAS). Following terrain and drape analyses, Xcalibur confirmed that the survey faces minimal operational constraints.
The PEL 93 Joint Venture consists of MEL Oil & Gas Exploration (Namibia) (55%), 88 Energy Limited (20%), Legend Oil Namibia (15%) and NAMCOR (10%).
