VAALCO Energy has announced positive operational updates on the drilling program, including impressive initial results on the Ebouri-5H well and mobilization of the rig to the SEENT platform offshore Gabon. The company has also provided a positive update on the first well completed in the 2026 onshore Egypt drilling program.
The company, in its operations report, disclosed that it has successfully drilled, completed, and resumed production on the Ebouri-5H development well and at the top of the structure with a lateral of 300 meters of net pay in high-quality Gamba sands.
Vaalco stated that it has achieved excellent initial flow rate exceeding 8,000 gross barrels of oil per day (BOPD), 4,700 BOPD net to Vaalco, with very low water cut, and it has continued the drilling campaign in offshore Gabon, with the rig mobilization to the SEENT platform to drill the ETBNM-3 development well.
The rig operation is planned as a directionally drilled slant well, adjacent to the GMF-1X discovery well, targeting gas and condensate resources in the Dentale D15 reservoir from the crest of the North Tchibala structure. Natural gas produced from a successful well will be utilized for operational purposes in the field to significantly reduce the costs of higher-priced diesel that is currently transported to the field by vessel.
In Egypt, successfully drilled, completed, and placed on production the HE-9 development well. Encountered 26 meters of net pay in the Asl B reservoir; and achieved an excellent initial flow rate of 529 gross BOPD, above Vaalco’s predrill expectations.
George Maxwell, Vaalco’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are very pleased with the continued positive results from our Gabon drilling campaign. The Ebouri-5H development well encountered 300 meters of net pay in high-quality Gamba sands in a crestal position within the Ebouri field.
The well was brought online with initial rates exceeding 8,000 gross BOPD, or 4,700 net BOPD. We have mobilized the rig to the SEENT platform where we plan to drill two development wells. Our goal is to continue to successfully add production and reserves with the remainder of our Gabon drilling campaign.
In Egypt, given the success of the 2025 drilling campaign, including captured efficiencies and accelerated technical subsurface evaluation, the Company is drilling additional wells in 2026. We completed and placed on production the HE-9 development well in early June, the first well in our 2026 drilling program, and are very pleased with the strong IP rates. With the Baobab field
successfully restarted and the continued successes in the Gabon and Egypt drilling campaigns, we have many positive achievements year to date, and we believe that the remainder of 2026 will be profitable. We remain focused on execution and driving meaningful growth through our organic capital programs that we believe will translate into value for our shareholders in 2026 and beyond.
