Invictus Energy completes plans for Mukuyu-2, Cabora Bassa basin

Invictus Energy Ltd. has completed drilling plans for the Mukuyu-2 well in Cabora Bassa basin, Zimbabwe.

Selection of the Mukuyu-2 appraisal well location, refinement of the well trajectory, and drilling plans have been completed. The Mukuyu-2 well will be about 6.8 km northeast of Mukuyu-1 ST1 which had confirmed the presence of light oil, gas and helium, de-risking drilling in the frontier Cabora Bassa basin (OGJ Online, Nov. 14, 2022).

Mukuyu-2 will be over a 400 m updip at the primary Triassic Upper Angwa formation target, providing the potential to prove up a material discovery upon success. Mukuyu-2 will be a near vertical well to provide optimal penetration of multiple targets including the Dande (Jurassic-Cretaceous), Forest, and Pebbly Arkose (both Triassic) formations within the Mukuyu anticline in the central horst structure. The well has a planned total depth of about 3,700 m which will also penetrate the untested Lower Angwa reservoirs.

Given the early-stage exploration of the hydrocarbon habitat in Cabora Bassa basin, a comprehensive formation evaluation program is planned which, in addition to formation pressure testing and fluid sampling, includes wireline logs, sidewall cores and a vertical seismic profile (VSP).

In the event of a successful appraisal result, the drilling program will suspend Mukuyu-2 for a future well test to confirm reservoir productivity.

The wellpad construction is progressing and the well is on schedule to spud in third-quarter 2023. Drilling and logging operations are expected to take 50-60 days.

Cabora Bassa basin lies onshore in the Zambezi Valley in Muzarabani, 300 km northeast of Harare. The 250,000-acre SG 4571 license is in the second exploration period which runs to June 2024. Prospective resources are 20 tcf of gas and 845 million bbl of condensate (OGJ Online, June 26, 2023).

Invictus is operator with 80% interest.