The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) and its partners have confirmed a new hydrocarbon find at the Volans-1X well in Namibia’s Orange Basin.
The well, drilled by operator Rhino Resources with Azule Energy and Korres Investments, hit 26 metres of rich-gas condensate reservoirs with strong quality and no water contact. Early tests show a high condensate-to-gas ratio, with further analysis underway. The Volans-1X exploration well, spudded on 31 July 2025 using the Northern Ocean semisubmersible Deepsea Mira, which reached a total depth of 4,497.5 metres TVDSS on 30 August 2025. Hydrocarbon samples and sidewall cores were collected through wireline logging operations. Further laboratory studies will be carried out on additional fluid samples, sidewall cores, and cuttings collected during the campaign. The rig was demobilised on 14 September 2025 to begin drilling in other location, while Volans-1X laboratory testing activities will remain ongoing.
Namcor’s acting MD Maureen Mbeunde said the discovery was exciting. “This discovery is not only exciting for Namcor but for Namibia as a whole. Volans1X demonstrates the extraordinary potential of the Orange Basin and reinforces Namibia’s place on the global energy map. We are waiting for history to be made, as discoveries like these bring us closer to transforming our energy sector, creating jobs, building capacity, and securing a brighter future for generations to come.”
Rhino Resources’ CEO Travis Smithard echoed Mbeunde’s sentiments. “Rhino, on behalf of the petroleum exploration licence 85 joint-venture, are delighted to announce the discovery of rich-gas condensate in an excellent quality reservoir at the Volans-1X well. This is our third consecutive hydrocarbon discovery on the block, further enhancing our understanding of the subsurface. This well result opens up an exciting new play fairway within the license, identifying different reservoir and fluid types in this well, similar to those recently discovered at Sagittarius-1X and Capricornus-1X. Rhino, in collaboration with our partners Azule Energy, Namcor and Korres, will now evaluate the results of the ongoing testing and integrate them into blockwide prospectivity studies.”
The well, drilled by operator Rhino Resources with Azule Energy and Korres Investments, hit 26 metres of rich-gas condensate reservoirs with strong quality and no water contact. Early tests show a high condensate-to-gas ratio, with further analysis underway. The Volans-1X exploration well, spudded on 31 July 2025 using the Northern Ocean semisubmersible Deepsea Mira, which reached a total depth of 4,497.5 metres TVDSS on 30 August 2025. Hydrocarbon samples and sidewall cores were collected through wireline logging operations. Further laboratory studies will be carried out on additional fluid samples, sidewall cores, and cuttings collected during the campaign. The rig was demobilised on 14 September 2025 to begin drilling in other location, while Volans-1X laboratory testing activities will remain ongoing.
Namcor’s acting MD Maureen Mbeunde said the discovery was exciting. “This discovery is not only exciting for Namcor but for Namibia as a whole. Volans1X demonstrates the extraordinary potential of the Orange Basin and reinforces Namibia’s place on the global energy map. We are waiting for history to be made, as discoveries like these bring us closer to transforming our energy sector, creating jobs, building capacity, and securing a brighter future for generations to come.”
Rhino Resources’ CEO Travis Smithard echoed Mbeunde’s sentiments. “Rhino, on behalf of the petroleum exploration licence 85 joint-venture, are delighted to announce the discovery of rich-gas condensate in an excellent quality reservoir at the Volans-1X well. This is our third consecutive hydrocarbon discovery on the block, further enhancing our understanding of the subsurface. This well result opens up an exciting new play fairway within the license, identifying different reservoir and fluid types in this well, similar to those recently discovered at Sagittarius-1X and Capricornus-1X. Rhino, in collaboration with our partners Azule Energy, Namcor and Korres, will now evaluate the results of the ongoing testing and integrate them into blockwide prospectivity studies.”
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