Despite the recent disappointment of the Welwitschia-1A well offshore Namibia in PEL 0010, which failed to find hydrocarbons, the operator of a nearby block has sought to dispel any suggestions that the result could have implications for its nearby acreage.

African and Mediterranean-focused Global Petroleum issued a statement following the outcome of the Welwitschia-1A well pointing out that its acreage, in blocks 2010A and 1910B is different to that targeted by the recent well.

“The great majority of the prospectivity in Global’s acreage is mapped in older sediments. These deeper structures were not reached by the Welwitschia-1A well. Therefore, the significant potential of these deeper traps and reservoirs remains to be tested,” Global said in reassuring tones, no doubt partly with the fact in mind that it is presently looking for a farm-in partner.

The comment came after drilling partner Tower Resources reported that the Welwitschia-1A well, operated by Repsol, was drilled to a depth of 2,454 m (8049 ft) in Block 2011A, adjacent to Global’s block 2010A in the Walvis Basin offshore northern Namibia, without finding hydrocarbons and was plugged and abandoned.

“The Global technical management team wishes to make it clear that the geological setting of Global’s blocks 2010A and 1910B is distinct from that targeted by the partners in the Welwitschia-1A well,” the company declared.

Tower said logging evaluation indicated Palaeocene, Maastrichtian and upper Campanian section reservoirs targeted by the Welwitschia-1A well were less well-developed than expected and that no hydrocarbons were encountered. The well was drilled with the Rowan Renaissance drillship.

Global’s CEO Peter Hill said his company remains optimistic about the potential of its Namibian blocks, and he underlined the technical differences between Global’s blocks and the drilling targets in Welwitschia-1A.

Global is currently seeking to farm-out equity in its blocks, with advisers FirstEnergy Capital.

Tower also reported that Repsol expects that the gross cost of the Welwitschia-1A well will be 10% above the US $91 million well budget. As Tower indicated another $40 million would be needed to deepen the well to test deeper targets, license partners agreed to wait for full analysis of Welwitschia’s results before deciding to drill a second well to test deeper potential.