As of August 2018, NAMCOR is understood to have been awarded exploration right covering Block 1711 (PEL 89). As of August 2017, it is understood that NAMCOR has a valid application for the Namibe Basin.   The block covers roughly 6,500 sq, just south of the Angolan border.   NAMCOR is understood to be the sole participant in the licence.   Background Information  Kunene and Hartmann were the first prospects to be identified. The Kunene prospect, originally defined by 2D seismic and confirmed by a 650 sq km 3D seismic survey acquired by former operator Vanco Energy in 2000, appeared to be a carbonate build-up of Cretaceous age, sealed by a thick Tertiary shale sequence. The structure formed a four-way dip closure covering 82 sq km, with a vertical closure of over 400 m. Before drilling, hydrocarbon resources were pegged at 450 MMBo and 445 Bcf (oil case estimate P+P) or 2.5 Tcf and 38 MMBo (gas case estimate P+P).   The Kunene 1 wildcat was spudded on 9 April 2008 with the "Deep Venture" drillship. Located in the northwestern part of Block 1711, the well was drilled in 772 m of water. It bottomed in the Barremian at a measured depth of 5,052 m below sea level, some 650 m deeper than the initial PTD of 4,400 m. Significant hydrocarbon shows were encountered in Albian and Aptian sediments, in a 228 m interval at about 3,700 m and in a 50 m interval at approximately 4,700 m. Testing operations on the deepest zone were conducted between 7 and 25 August 2008. The "Deep Venture" was released on 7 September 2008. According to the Namibian Ministry of Mines and Energy, the reservoir quality at Kunene 1 is not very good, possibly as a result of nearby igneous activity. However, the alteration of the sediments may be localized and therefore, the resource potential could be up to 14 Tcf of gas.   The Hartmann prospect is estimated to hold 729 MMb of mean recoverable oil resources in Tertiary turbidite sands.
NAMCOR (100%) is understood to have been awarded exploration right covering Block 1711 (PEL 89).