Shell is strengthening its offshore exploration campaign in Namibia after obtaining encouraging results at the Merlin-1X well, located in Petroleum Exploration License No. 0039, known as PEL 0039, within the Orange Basin.
La compañía opera esta licencia junto con QatarEnergy y NAMCOR. El nuevo resultado mejora la lectura técnica del bloque y aporta más datos sobre el potencial petrolero de una zona que viene ganando peso dentro del mapa upstream africano.
Merlin-1X provides new data on PEL 0039
The Merlin-1X well began drilling on April 8, 2026, and is the tenth well drilled in this Shell-operated license. During the campaign, the well successfully intersected the Coniacian target, a key formation for evaluating the quality of the petroleum system in this offshore area of Namibia.
According to the information released, the subsurface results are the most promising obtained so far within PEL 0039. The initial appraisal points to good reservoir quality, the presence of light oil, and limited levels of associated gas compared to previous results in the same license.
The Orange Basin gains more technical attention
Furthermore, these data strengthen Shell’s geological knowledge of the Orange Basin. The area remains under analysis for its capacity to support future oil developments, although the company is still evaluating the resource volume and its potential commercial viability.
The company is considering further drilling toward the end of 2026 as part of a broader exploratory appraisal program. This step will be key to determining whether the Merlin-1X results can translate into a competitive development opportunity.
Shell maintains a data-driven approach
Eugene Okpere, Shell’s Executive Vice President of Exploration, Strategy, and Portfolio, stated that the results expand the understanding of the Orange Basin’s potential. He also highlighted that the company is moving forward with a disciplined, data-driven approach to establish the commerciality of the resource.
Likewise, Shell acknowledged the collaboration with the Government of Namibia, QatarEnergy, NAMCOR, and the technical teams involved in the campaign. This progress confirms that offshore exploration in Namibia remains one of the most watched areas within African upstream.
Source: Shell
Photo: Shutterstock
