In mid-March 2018, Perenco Oil & Gas Gabon abandoned the Akoum South 1 (DAKMS-1) exploration well in the DE8 block as a minor oil discovery in the Upper Cretaceous Anguille formation.  The well was spudded on 2 February 2018 using Petroforâs âDagdaâ J/U and drilled to TD of 2,302 m. It has objectives in the Albian Madiela formation.    Perenco operates the block with a 60% interest and Sasol holds the remaining 40% interest.   DE8 exploration permit is located along the coast off Omboue, 90-190km SSE of Port Gentil, in water depths ranging from 0 to 80m. Straddling the limit between the North and South Gabon sub-basins, DE8 surrounds three fields operated by Perenco Oil Gabon Ltd, Tchatamba Marin, Tchatamba West and Tchatamba South. Potential reservoirs in the area are the Albian Upper Madiela unit, which is the main reservoir on the Tchatamba complex, and the Senonian Batanga Formation. Potential source rocks lie in the Turonian Azile and Albian Madiela formations.  Background Information  DE8 and D7 were previously owned by Tullow Oil plc from 28 May 2004 to 17 April 2008 under the Akoum Marin exploration permit. With an area of 2,947 sq km, the Akoum Marin permit corresponded to the residual area of the Kowe block, which Marathon relinquished on 16 December 1999.   Energy Africa drilled two wells back-to-back in the Akoum Marin permit, AKM-A1 and AKM-B1, in the first half of 2003. The latter was suspended as a potentially commercial oil discovery (Turonian Azile Formation) for a future re-entry. However, on 3 November 2003, the company indicated that, upon evaluation of seismic data in the area, the discovery was found to be too small to justify development.   In February or March 2005, Tullow completed prospect evaluation based on interpretation of the 464km 2D seismic data acquired over three zones in the eastern portion of the Akoum Marin permit from 21 August to 2 September 2004. Gardline Geosurvey Ltd was contracted for the survey with the M/V "Sea Surveyor". The acquisition was in addition to the 2D and 3D seismic data recorded in 2003.   In 2005, Tullow was engaged in a 2D seismic reprocessing project with Fugro Robertson over the permit. A further 2D seismic acquisition (87km) was processed and interpreted.   The following well, Akoum Marin West 1 (AKM-C1), was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole at TD 2,329m on 16 February 2006. The well targeted the Albian Madiela Formation. The jack-up GSF "Adriatic VI" was released to drill the Soulandaka 1 exploration well some 20km to the southeast, on behalf of Marathon. On 13 March 2006, this well was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole at TD 1,875m.  On 31 March 2016, Perenco closed the dataroom for DE8 permit. The data room opened on 15 January 2016. The company is expecting offers by 12 May 2016. Perenco operates the block with an 80% interest.
Akoum South 1 (DAKMS-1) op. by Perenco (60%, Sasol 40%) in the DE8 block as a minor oil discovery in the Upper Cretaceous Anguille fm.