New Katambi-2 Well Confirms Additional Offshore Oil and Gas Reserves in Angola

Angola’s national oil company, Sonangol, alongside its partner, the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), has successfully drilled the Katambi-2 appraisal well in Block 24 of the Benguela Basin, confirming significant reservoir potential for both oil and gas.

The Katambi-2 well was drilled approximately 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) from Katambi-1, a well drilled over ten years ago by BP. At the time, BP deemed the discovery commercially unviable and returned the stake to the state. However, the new appraisal well penetrated two productive zones, revealing higher-quality reservoir characteristics than its predecessor.

Initial testing at Katambi-2 yielded a stable flow rate of 1,160 barrels per day of condensate and 41 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of gas. Crucially, tests detected no water or hydrogen sulfide, boosting the likelihood of a commercially viable development that could support national output.

The partners also performed Angola’s first full drill stem test (Full DST) on a non-associated gas reservoir. Preliminary analysis suggests the well has the capacity to produce over 100 MMscfd.

Angola is actively working to reverse a long-term decline in oil production and tap into its non-associated gas reserves. The country offers a strategic advantage for global energy markets as its offshore exports do not rely on transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Though Angola’s crude production fell below 1 million barrels per day (bpd) last year shortly after its departure from OPEC, output has since stabilized around 1.1 million bpd. The country’s gas sector is also gaining momentum, marked by Azule Energy—a joint venture between BP and Eni—launching Angola’s first non-associated gas project earlier this year.