Vaalco Energy has drilled and brought the ETBNM-3 gas-supply well offshore Gabon into production, while advancing drilling operations at the SEENT platform, according to a company update.

The ETBNM-3 well, located in the crestal portion of the North Tchibala structure, was drilled into the Dentale D-15 reservoir. Vaalco said reservoir properties exceeded pre-drill estimates, with strong porosity and permeability and more than 10 meters of net reservoir pay.

The new well is expected to provide sufficient gas for field operations, liftings and power requirements, reducing reliance on higher-cost diesel.

“The newly successful gas well won’t add production or sales directly but will reduce costs associated with using higher-priced diesel; this should improve field uptime and potentially add production uplift to existing wells over time,” said George Maxwell, CEO of Vaalco.

Vaalco is also evaluating shallower pay intervals in the D-9 and D-12 formations, which appear to contain wet gas-to-light-oil pay.

The company moved the drilling rig to a new slot on the SEENT platform on July 27 to begin drilling the ETSEM-3PH pilot hole and development well.

The well is designed to test the original field oil-water contact and the potential of the underlying Dentale formation. Following the pilot, Vaalco plans to drill a horizontal development well with a 300-meter completion length in the Gamba sands.

Vaalco is an independent energy company with production, development and exploration assets in Gabon, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea.