Offshore exploration began in 1968 when the area was held under concession by various operators and resulted in the discovery of the Kudu gas field by Chevron in 1973. For political reasons, further exploration and appraisal work was halted until 1987-1988 when the forerunner of the current state oil company, National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), drilled a series of appraisal wells. Further exploration did not resume again until after Namibia achieved independence. The first bidding round was opened in September 1991 and attracted exploration to the northern area of the offshore and to two blocks in the extreme south. The area between Walvis Bay and Ludritz was excluded in the first round because of issues relating to sovereignty (subsequently resolved). In 1992 Namibia awarded its first blocks to Chevron, Sasol, Ranger and Norsk Hydro.
Tullow holds a 90% operating interest in Licence 005, Area 2814A offshore Namibia which includes the Kudu gas field. In July 2004 the Group concluded a Joint Development Agreement for the development of the Kudu field as part of a gas to power project. The Project involves the offshore development of the Kudu gas field by Energy Africa and NAMCOR, and the piping of gas to shore for treatment and delivery to an 800MW power station to be developed and commercially operated by NamPower in the vicinity of Oranjemund.
In August 2004 the government of Namibia signed a Reconnaissance License with hunt Oil for the right to carry out petroleum reconnaissance operations in the Lüderitz Basin, offshore Namibia. The license covers approximately 48,000 square kilometers (11.86 million acres) of the offshore part of Namibia, west of the town of Luderitz. The water depths in the License range from 200m to 3000m.
In March 2005 EnerGulf Resources entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia to establish a working relationship with regard to joint ventures in oil and gas exploration, development and production opportunities in Namibia, in particular Block 1711, and gas to liquids and related opportunities. Under the terms of the MOC, NAMCOR has granted to EnerGulf an option for up to 25% of NAMCOR's interest in Block 1711. ). Block 1711 is situated in the Namibe Basin off the northern coast of Namibia along the international boundary with Angola.
Tullow holds a 90% operating interest in Licence 005, Area 2814A offshore Namibia which includes the Kudu gas field. In July 2004 the Group concluded a Joint Development Agreement for the development of the Kudu field as part of a gas to power project. The Project involves the offshore development of the Kudu gas field by Energy Africa and NAMCOR, and the piping of gas to shore for treatment and delivery to an 800MW power station to be developed and commercially operated by NamPower in the vicinity of Oranjemund.
In August 2004 the government of Namibia signed a Reconnaissance License with hunt Oil for the right to carry out petroleum reconnaissance operations in the Lüderitz Basin, offshore Namibia. The license covers approximately 48,000 square kilometers (11.86 million acres) of the offshore part of Namibia, west of the town of Luderitz. The water depths in the License range from 200m to 3000m.
In March 2005 EnerGulf Resources entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia to establish a working relationship with regard to joint ventures in oil and gas exploration, development and production opportunities in Namibia, in particular Block 1711, and gas to liquids and related opportunities. Under the terms of the MOC, NAMCOR has granted to EnerGulf an option for up to 25% of NAMCOR's interest in Block 1711. ). Block 1711 is situated in the Namibe Basin off the northern coast of Namibia along the international boundary with Angola.
