As of January 2020, Eni had completed the drilling of its Dinge 20-8 exploratory well located within the onshore Lower Congo Basin Cabinda North Block. Sources have indicated that although the well intersected an oil-bearing reservoir section the results were not as hoped for. The source suggested that the planned 5 to 10-day long fracking operation is likely to be abandoned.   As of 16 December 2019, Eni had reached a depth of 1,185 m with the well and was about to reach the reservoir horizon. The well was spudded in October with the "SMP 102" land rig.   The spudding of the well was delayed several times:    As      of late July 2019, it was expected to be spudded in September 2019 delayed      from Q1 2019. According to sources the delay in its drilling was due road      improvements that will allow access to the site during the rainy season.   Eni      had originally planned to drill the well by end 2018.   local sources indicated that the rig was contracted at a rate of USD 40,000 per day. The well was expected to cost USD 10.6 million if dry and USD 15.7 million if a discovery was made (if a discovery was made the Drill Stem Test may be conducted a month after the well was completed). The increased cost if a discovery be made, is understood to relate to the additional time required to conduct the DST and a USD 1,2 million fracturing operation that is required within the expected tight target formation.   In late 2017, Eni took over operatorship of the 2,400 sq km Cabinda Norte block (formerly Cabinda A) located in the north of Angola, adjoining the Congo Brazzaville border. The Cabinda onshore area is underlain by a graben separated from the main Atlantic rift by a basement high. The graben, known in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the Lemba Trough, has its own kitchen, and is a proven oil play in Cabinda and in DRC.   Exploration to date     In 2013 Sonangol drilled the Dinge 20/6 and 20/7 wells. Both wells were plugged and abandoned with oil shows. The Dinge pre-salt sandstone oil reservoir (Barremian to Aptian Vovo Formation) was discovered by Gulf Oil in 1971. The exploratory wells 20-4 and 20-5 were drilled in the central north area of the Block. Both wells were delineating the Dinge structure with a northwest-southeast trend.   In the sixties Chevron, then Gulf, explored extensively in the area and drilled an estimated 69 wildcats and four outposts in the 4,625 sq km area which is now under license. Gulf made one gas and five oil discoveries considered marginal at the time, an additional seven wells had oil shows. New exploration techniques (3D and much improved 2D seismic), better geological models and new concepts, and the excellent wildcat coverage for calibration of the models, have all contributed to the understanding of the area and itâs prospectively.  Subject to the closing of the deal between SOCO International plc (SOCO) Quill Trading Corporation (QTC) and WMLC Resources Limited (WMLC) announced on 2 July 2018. The interests in the licence are ENI (operator) with a 48% interest, Sonangol P&P with a 20% interest, SOCO Cabinda with a 22% interest (held entirely by QTC and WMLC) and Angola Consulting Resources with a 10% interest.
Eni (48% op, Sonangol P&P  20%, SOCO Cabinda 22% (held entirely by QTC and WMLC), Angola Consulting Resources 10%) completes the drilling of the Dinge 20-8 exploratory well within the Cabinda North Block - oil was encountered but results are not as hoped for