Vaalco Energy has wrapped up Phase 3 of its Gabon upstream drilling campaign, bringing the ETSEM-3H development well online at a stabilized initial rate of about 2,000 gross barrels of oil per day, or 1,140 barrels net to Vaalco.
Gabon well closes out Phase 3
The ETSEM-3H well was drilled, completed and placed on production in an attic position within the SE Etame field, with a lateral wellbore carrying 300 meters of net pay in the Gamba reservoir sands. An attic position targets oil trapped high against the top of a reservoir structure. ETSEM-3H is the final well in Vaalco's Phase 3 program, and the drilling rig, the Borr Norve, has been demobilized from the field.
Chief executive George Maxwell said he was "pleased with the results of the ETSEM-3H development well."
Baobab Phase 5 gets underway in Côte d'Ivoire
Offshore Côte d'Ivoire, Vaalco has started Phase 5 drilling at the Baobab field, where the operator is batch-setting the top-hole sections of the new wells. Once the top-hole sections are drilled, the wells will be completed and placed on production one at a time. The Phase 5 program covers four producer wells, three water injectors and two workovers.
Vaalco expects the first new Baobab producer online near the end of 2026. Maxwell said the campaign follows the Baobab field's restart during the second quarter and should bring meaningful production increases in 2027.
