As of mid or late August 2019, Petroleum Exploration & Production Africa (PEPA) is though to have completed the drilling operations at the Ngoki 1 (NGK001) well located within the Zaire Basin Ngoki block. Local sources have indicated that the well was drilled to a TD of 2,850 m before terminating in basement. As of early August 2019, several reports had emerged indicating that PEPA a consortium consisting of SociÃ©tÃ© africaine de recherche pÃ©troliÃ¨re et distribution (SARPD-oil) and Pilatus Energy Congo SARL (Pilatus Energy) had discovered oil with the well. According to the reports the Ngoki 1 field is estimated to hold some 359 MMbo (no details are currently available, but this is assumed to be in place or a predrill estimate). Itâs worth noting that the potential production numbers reported seem erroneous/impossible.   In early August Local sources confirmed that the well was drilling ahead at 2,680 m and intersected oil within a good quality sandstones sections with a combined thickness of over 100 m (between 2,000 m and 2,400 m) confirmed by a well log. The primary objective is the Upper Proterozoic Ituri carbonates. Initially, sources suggested that some 100 m of gas shows followed by 60 m of oil shows were encountered between 2,000 m and 2,400 m. Its also worth noting that the PTD was 3,100 m and the well was drilled to 2,850 m before bottoming out in basement.  As of early July 2019, NGK001 was drilling ahead at a MD 1,600 m. The well was spudded om 25 March 2019. NGK001 is being drilled vertically with the âSMP 105â land rig and view as High Impact as itâs the first well to be drilled within the Basin in almost 40 years (all of which were drilled in the Democratic Republic of Congo portion of the basin). The well is located close to the Congo River and is targeting one of the smaller prospects (presumably because access to most of the block is challenging).   As of late December 2018, it was understood that preparations for drilling were underway. The block covers some 9,500 sq km atop the Likouala Sub-basin (Zaire Basin) and Kiri High (Zaire Basin).   The PEPA consortium operates the block with a 90% interest (SARPD-oil hold 99% of the share capital, Pilatus holds 1%), Societe Nationale des Petroles du Congo holds the remaining 10% stake.  Background Information    On 31 May 2009, Pilatus Energy (at the time a 70% stake holder in PEPA) completed a 2D seismic acquisition over the southern portion of the Ngoki exploration permit. The first phase of this survey was undertaken by BGP from 15 October to mid-November 2008.
Congo (Lokoro Sub-basin (Zaire B.)) Ngoki 1