Rhino Resources Ltd has discovered hydrocarbons at the Capricornus 1-X well in Namibia’s Orange Basin. Drilled with the Noble Venturer, the well reached 16,263 feet and found over 124 feet of net pay with good reservoir quality and no water contact.
Hydrocarbon samples, cores, and a successful production test were completed.Rhino Resources reported that the Capricornus 1-X well in Namibia achieved a flow rate of over 11,000 barrels per day of light oil with minimal gas and low impurities.
The well will be temporarily plugged and abandoned after testing. Rhino operates PEL 85 with a 42.5% stake, alongside Azule Energy (42.5%), NAMCOR (10%), and Korres Investments (5%).Rhino CEO Travis Smithard announced a light oil discovery at the Capricornus 1-X well, highlighting the high-quality reservoir and no water contact.
He praised the Rhino team and partners for safely drilling two deepwater wells in a complex environment.Rhino and its partners—Azule Energy, NAMCOR, and Korres—will now conduct post-drilling analysis to guide future exploration on PEL 85. BP and Eni confirmed the preliminary results of the Capricornus 1-X discovery.
Earlier, Rhino’s Sagittarius 1-X well, drilled between December 2024 and February 2025, also encountered hydrocarbons with no water contact.Smithard said the first well on PEL 85 was safely drilled and confirmed a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, with further analysis needed.
Focus now shifts to the Capricornus-1X prospect, expected to be drilled in 47 days. Meanwhile, Galp announced the successful drilling of the Mopane-3X well on PEL 83 offshore Namibia.
Galp announced the discovery of significant light oil and gas-condensate columns in the Mopane complex, with high-quality reservoirs showing good porosity, pressure, and permeability. Initial fluid samples revealed low viscosity and minimal CO₂ and H₂S. Estimated hydrocarbons in-place exceed 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
