On 24 April 2018, ExxonMobil announced that it had signed agreements with the government of Namibia and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) for Block 1710 and Block 1810. In addition, the company signed farm in agreements for Block 1711 and Block 1811A. All the blocks cover acreage primarily atop the Namibe basin just south of the Angolan/Namibian border. Itâs worth noting that Exxon has a signed memorandum of understanding for Block 30, Block 44 and Block 45 in the Angolan portion of the basin. Exxonâs acreage seems to correlate with the major depocenters within the basin where sediment thicknesses are expected to be more than 3,000 m. Â   Block 1710 and Block 1810 cover a combined area in excess of 20,000 sq km and will be operated by Exxon with a 90% interest, NAMCOR will hold a 10% stake. Exxon will assign 5% of its interest to a local Namibian Company.  To date these blocks are virtually unexplored, there are a few 2D seismic lines the cross both blocks but no 3D data and no drilling.  Block 1711 and Block 1811A cover a combined area in excess of 11,000 sq km in water ranging in depths between 0 m and 2,400 m, Exxon will operate the blocks with an 85% interest and NAMCOR will hold the remaining 15% interest.   Both blocks have been explored with 3D seismic acquisitions and drilling. In 2012 Enigma Oil & Gas Exploration (Pty) Ltd a subsidiary of Chariot Oil and Gas drilled the 1811/05 01 exploratory well which was plugged and abandoned as dry. In 2008 Sintezneftegas Namibia Ltd drilled the Kunene 1 well which was plugged and abandoned with gas shows.
ExxonMobil (90% op. Namcor 10%) awarded rights to blocks 1710 + 1810, and farmin (85% op. Namcor ->15%) to 1711 + 1811A blocks, total 28000kmÂ². 