Vaalco Boosts Production at Aging Gabon Oil Field with New Wells
Vaalco Energy is intensifying drilling and field optimization at its mature Etame oil asset offshore Gabon, which has produced over 120 million barrels of crude. The US independent oil producer aims to slow the decline of the field by bringing a new gas-supply well into production and drilling an appraisal well.
The newly completed ETBNM-3 well produces gas from the Dentale D-15 reservoir to supply field operations, lifting activities, and power generation. Vaalco said the well encountered more than 10 meters of net reservoir pay, with reservoir quality exceeding pre-drill expectations.
The company plans a 300-meter horizontal Gamba development well if the appraisal confirms commercially attractive reserves. The approach illustrates a broader feature of mature African oil fields, where operators need to combine reservoir knowledge, development drilling, improved recovery, and infrastructure optimization to maintain production.