BW Energy has disclosed safely  resumption  of oil production from the DHBSM-1H well in the Hibiscus South field on the Dussafu Licence offshore Gabon five months after the initial discovery was made in November 2023. Production performance from the well has been in line with expectations and is currently stabilised at approximately 5,000-6,000 barrels of oil per day.

The DHBSM-1H well was drilled as a horizontal well from the BW MaBoMo production facility to a total depth of 5,960 metres into Gamba sandstone reservoir. The well is located approximately 5 kilometres southwest of the MaBoMo in a separate accumulation with a deeper oil-water contact than the nearby Hibiscus Field. Following completion, the Borr Norve jackup has commenced drilling operations on the Ruche sidetrack well (DRM-3H ST1).

“We are very pleased with the safe and efficient execution of Hibiscus South fast-track development within a few months after making the initial discovery,” said Carl K. Arnet CEO of BW Energy. “This represents a material, low-cost and low-risk expansion of the Dussafu production and reserve base, demonstrating how our phased development strategy provides the flexibility to rapidly unlock significant value.”

The DHBSM-1H well is expected to recover 6.6 mmbbls from approximately 22 mmbbls oil in place, based on third party 2P estimates. The Dussafu license is situated within the Ruche Exclusive Exploitation Area (Ruche EEA), which covers 850 km² and includes six discovered oil fields and numerous leads and prospects. The average water depth is 116 metres. The Production Sharing Contract allows for production of hydrocarbons from the Ruche EEA for up to 20 years from first production, which was achieved in September 2018.

Fields on the Dussafu block produce to the BW Adolo FPSO adjacent to the Tortue Field. Phase 1 of the Dussafu development included two subsea horizontal production wells at the Tortue Field. Production is aided by gas lift as the artificial lift mechanism. Tortue Phase 2 introduced four additional subsea production wells at Tortue Field as part of continued Dussafu development. The Hibiscus / Ruche development project in the Hibiscus and Ruche Fields is planned to initially drill up to six horizontal production wells, all targeting the Gamba reservoir.