Drilling contracts handed out for Zimbabwe play

Invictus Energy has signed multiple well services contracts with oilfield services players to spud the Mukuyu-2 well in Zimbabwe, the Australia-based independent announced on Monday.

Under the deals, SLB will perform open-hole wireline logging, Geolog International will perform mudlogging works and Baker Hughes and NOV will work in tandem to perform directional drilling and logging while drilling works.

The remaining works, including cementing, drilling fluids and mud engineering, tubular running, fishing and abandonment, liner hangers, reservoir technical services and project management will be handled by Baker Hughes.

The planning and maintenance programme for the Exalo 202 rig has been completed and operations are expected to begin in Q3 2023.

“The award of multiple well services contracts to international service companies for the Mukuyu2 well marks another significant milestone for the company as we prepare to follow up our highly successful basin opening Mukuyu-1/ST-1 well,” said Scott Macmillan, managing director of Invictus Energy.

“Mukuyu-1/ST1 has already confirmed the presence of light oil, gas and helium, de-risking drilling in the frontier Cabora Bassa basin and Mukuyu-2 is the next step to unlocking this potentially significant resource.”

In January 2023, Invictus Energy identified 13 potential hydrocarbons bearing zones at its Mukuyu-1 exploration well in Zimbabwe, with analysis revealing commercial volumes in May 2023.