Invictus Energy has locked in a November 2026 spud date for the Musuma-1 exploration well at its Cabora Bassa Project in Zimbabwe, after executing a Deed of Variation to its drilling contract with Exalo Drilling that secures Exalo Rig 202 for the job.
The revised contract covers agreed rig preparation and well services mobilization work. Once the rig inspection is complete and the maintenance scope is finalized, Exalo will run an operational readiness campaign before moving Rig 202 from the Mukuyu area to the Musuma-1 wellsite. Exalo personnel will work alongside drilling teams from Invictus and Geo Associates through preparation and mobilization.
Procurement of the remaining well services for the campaign is largely done, with contracts being prepared for award. Construction of the Musuma-1 wellpad and associated civil works is scheduled to start the following week, after customary cultural ceremonies with local traditional leaders and communities.
What Musuma-1 is targeting
Musuma-1 is targeting an estimated gross mean unrisked prospective resource of 1.2 Tcf of gas and 73 million barrels of condensate, an early estimate of what the structure could hold before a well confirms it, rather than a proven reserve. That puts it among the largest undrilled conventional exploration opportunities in the Cabora Bassa Basin.
The well is the first high-impact exploration target Invictus will drill outside the Mukuyu gas-condensate discovery area. It tests a new play type the company identified through its CB23 seismic survey.
