Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd (ReconAfrica) says it plans to begin a production test on the Kavango West 1X well in Namibia’s Damara Fold Belt by the end of the first quarter of 2026, following the discovery of significant hydrocarbons.
The company said the Huttenberg formation encountered at Kavango West 1X contains about 85 metres of net reservoir, including 64 metres of net hydrocarbon pay, across a gross interval of 400 metres. Mud and gas samples have been collected and sent to the United States for analysis.
ReconAfrica also reported elevated gas readings in the deeper Elandshoek formation, with an average total gas content of 20% over a 560-metre interval.
Oil sheens and gas bubbles were observed at surface, while post-well analysis showed 81 metres of hydrocarbon fluorescence, up from 61 metres previously identified.
President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Reinsborough said the company is preparing for a production test following the drilling of its second exploration well in the Damara Fold Belt.
“We have had an active and productive 2025 in which we advanced the company on multiple strategic fronts. We completed drilling our second well in the Damara Fold Belt resulting in encountering significant hydrocarbons, extended our acreage into Angola at a low cost, and expanded our portfolio into offshore Gabon,” Reinsborough said.
“These actions set the company up for several important milestones in 2026,” he added.
Senior Vice President of Drilling and Completions Nick Steinsberger said ReconAfrica and its partners decided to proceed directly to production testing instead of conducting a drill stem test due to operational challenges associated with testing the 2,000-metre open-hole section.
“We are preparing to conduct a production test on Kavango West 1X, which will allow a longer flow period and pressure build-up analysis to better calculate potential production rates and reserve estimates,” Steinsberger said.
He said early planning indicates that up to eight reservoir intervals of interest could be tested. Testing operations are expected to last between four and eight weeks, with each test running for approximately five to ten days.
ReconAfrica operates Petroleum Exploration Licence 73 with a 70% working interest. BW Energy holds 20%, while NAMCOR has a 10% carried interest.
