Nelson Gahadza
Senior Business Reporter
Invictus Energy, which is exploring for oil and gas in Zimbabwe, continues to encounter highly encouraging signs of gas through the Upper Angwa primary target and now also in the top of the Lower Angwa.
The drilling campaign on the Mukuyu-2 well commenced in September 2023, marking the second attempt of the company’s exploration after the initial drilling was inconclusive due to technical glitches.
In the latest update, managing director Mr Scott Macmillan said that the total gas observed from reservoirs in Mukuyu-2 to date is approximately four times greater than the observed total gas peaks in Mukuyu-1.
“We continue to see highly encouraging signs through our Upper Angwa primary target and now also in the top Lower Angwa, with increased strong gas shows, fluorescence, and elevated resistivity from Logging While Drilling (LWD) tools across multiple zones down to the current total depth of the well with several hundred meters of undrilled section and potential upside still ahead,” said Macmillan.
“Results to date have been extremely encouraging through the Upper Angwa, and additional positive indications of the play potential in the previously untested Lower Angwa are exciting.”
He added that once total depth is reached, it will be followed by a comprehensive wireline logging program to evaluate results, with the aim of confirming the presence of movable hydrocarbons in multiple zones and declaring a discovery.
Invictus is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, which regulates terms for commercial success or discovery of petroleum commodities. Oil and gas are major sources of energy across the country and would deliver immense economic benefits for Zimbabwe if successfully discovered, including energy security.
While Zimbabwe continues to make progress in ramping up power production, the output remains significantly lower than the country’s overall requirements and inadequate to cover future demand as the economy grows.
Mr Macmillan said that since the last update, the drill bit, LWD tools, and mud motor have been changed out, and the 8 and half -inch hole section has been drilled to a current depth of 3,296 measured meters.
“Strong gas shows up to 157 times above the background gas baseline, with associated drilling breaks, fluorescence in cuttings indicative of the presence of liquid hydrocarbons, and elevated LWD resistivity have been encountered in multiple Upper Angwa sandstone reservoirs,” he said.
Going forward, Mr. Macmillan said that the Exalo 202 Rig will recommence drilling through the Lower Angwa to approximately 3,750 meters of measured depth before running a wireline logging evaluation.
The final total depth may vary depending on real-time data on mudgas, stratigraphy, and hole conditions.
The commercial discovery of oil and gas would enhance Zimbabwe’s security and unlock avenues for massive economic growth and development through the emergence of downstream industries, new job creation, growth in export earnings, and government revenue.
