BW Energy confirms commercial oil in two Dussafu appraisal wells, adding production well to Gabon campaign
BW Energy has confirmed commercial oil volumes in both appraisal wells drilled at its Dussafu license in Gabon, with combined gross recovery estimated at 8–9 million barrels. The operator, which holds a 73.5% working interest, says the results are strong enough to warrant adding at least one fast-track production well to the ongoing MaBoMo Phase 2 drilling campaign.
Both appraisal wells confirm commercial oil at Dussafu
Two wells — 10P2 and 10P1 — were drilled at the Dussafu license in Gabon, carrying an estimated combined gross recovery of around 8–9 million barrels of oil. That’s a meaningful addition to the field’s resource base. BW Energy says the results justify adding at least one high-value, fast-track production well to the current drilling program.
BW Energy holds a 73.5% working interest in the Dussafu license, with partners Panoro Energy and Gabon Oil Company holding 17.5% and 9%, respectively. CEO Carl K. Arnet called the outcome “another strong result at Dussafu,” noting that the decision to drill the appraisal wells before the production wells had paid off by confirming additional volumes ahead of schedule.
BW Energy has confirmed commercial oil in both the 10P2 and 10P1 appraisal wells at Dussafu, with combined gross recovery estimated at 8–9 million barrels.
Well-by-well findings: Reservoir quality and recovery estimates
The 10P2 well is the more significant of the two. It encountered a 30-metre oil column in the Gamba reservoir, at a structural depth consistent with pre-drill predictions. Formation evaluation confirmed good porosity and permeability — the kind of reservoir quality that translates into reliable production performance.
Wireline logging and pressure testing suggest initial rates above 5,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) gross from a production well here, in line with recent MaBoMo Phase 1 well performance. Base case incremental recovery from 10P2 is estimated at 6 million barrels gross, and BW Energy expects the well to pay back its costs in under a year.
The 10P1 well found a 16-metre oil column in a separate accumulation — a distinct pocket of oil rather than an extension of the 10P2 structure. Formation evaluation confirmed moveable oil and good reservoir quality, supporting development with an additional production well. Timing for that well will be optimized against the broader Dussafu drilling schedule, including the upcoming Bourdon Phase 1 program.
Drilling schedule expanded: MaBoMo Phase 2 and beyond
With both appraisal results in hand, the drilling rig is now heading to the MaBoMo facility. The first task there isn’t a new well — it’s a workover to replace the electrical submersible pump on an existing Hibiscus well. After that, four MaBoMo Phase 2 production wells will be drilled, followed by a fifth well at the 10P2 appraisal location.
Each of those wells is expected to produce around 5,000 bopd gross at initial rates. Because they come on stream in sequence rather than simultaneously, MaBoMo Phase 2 is projected to add up to 20,000 bopd gross at peak. First oil from the phase is targeted for Q1 2027.
Once MaBoMo Phase 2 wraps up, the campaign moves on to an infill well on the Tortue field, then into the Bourdon Phase 1 development. BW Energy has set a first oil target of Q1 2028 for Bourdon Phase 1 — keeping the company on a steady drumbeat of new production additions through the second half of the decade.
Long-term production targets and license context
BW Energy’s long-term production target for the Dussafu license sits at 30–45 thousand barrels of oil per day (kbopd) gross, supported by a pipeline that runs through MaBoMo, Tortue, Bourdon, and Walt Whitman. Each project steps production higher over time. Walt Whitman and further appraisal drilling in the Bourdon area are planned for 2028 — and if those wells come in positive, BW Energy says they’d trigger additional development activity extending the growth trajectory further into the next decade.
The company also recently received a license extension for Dussafu, providing more runway to execute the longer-term plan without the pressure of an approaching expiry date. That matters considerably as the program looks out to 2028 and beyond.
The company now counts 13 successful exploration and appraisal wells out of 14 drilled as operator — a consistency rate that reflects both the quality of the license and disciplined execution on the ground.
What the Dussafu results mean going forward
BW Energy has confirmed commercial oil in both the 10P2 and 10P1 appraisal wells at Dussafu, with combined gross recovery estimated at 8–9 million barrels. The 10P2 well alone carries a base case of 6 million barrels and is expected to pay back in under a year. At least one fast-track production well is being added to the current MaBoMo Phase 2 campaign, which targets first oil in Q1 2027.
The drilling program continues beyond MaBoMo — through Tortue infill, Bourdon Phase 1 (first oil Q1 2028), and eventually Walt Whitman. Together, those projects anchor BW Energy’s 30–45 kbopd gross production target for the license, a target that looks a little more achievable now with two more confirmed accumulations in the portfolio.
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