Brazilian explorer HRT has received approval from Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy to assign a 14% participating interest in three deepwater exploration blocks in the Walvis and Orange Basins off the African country’s southern west coast to Portugal’s Galp Energia.
The interests related to PEL 23 in the Walvis Basin, and PELs 24 and 28, both in the Orange Basin. HRT will retain operatorship of the licences. “With this formal approval by the Government of Namibia, HRT has fulfilled all the requirements of the farmout agreement and we can confirm we will start operations in Q1 2013 for our exploratory campaign in Namibia. We are confident that HRT is on the right track to accomplish its objectives”, said Marcio Rocha Mello, Chief Executive Officer of HRT.
The Transocean Marianas semisub drilling rig is en route to Namibia to carry out a well campaign for HRT. The first prospect to be drilled lies in PEL 23, with the well to be drilled in a water depth of 1,000 m (3,281 ft). Drilling operations are expected to last approximately 60 days. The rig is due to work for HRT until nearly the end of 2013 at a dayrate of US $530,000.
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