Namibia’s Orange Basin has the potential to produce up to 47,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and generate trillions of dollars in revenue, according to Marcio Mello, Founder of Namibia Energy Corporation.
Speaking at the Namibia International Energy Conference, Mello highlighted the potential of the Orange Basin to replicate the offshore success of Brazil’s Santos Basin, which has produced for over 20 years.
Mello noted that Brazil’s Campos Basin currently produces an average of 13,000 bopd and has the capacity to increase output to 20,000 bopd.
In comparison, Namibia’s Orange Basin holds even greater potential due to its size and resource composition, being eight times larger than the Campos Basin.
“The reservoirs of the two basins are similar,” Mello stated, noting that both share comparable trap-seal systems, petroleum systems, and reservoir formations. Each features overcharged Cretaceous lacustrine and marine petroleum systems, with primary reservoirs formed by sand-rich turbidite channel systems.
The key difference lies in the stage of development: “Campos is a mature basin with over 25 deepwater wells drilled, while Namibia’s Orange Basin is still emerging, with just 17 wells completed to date.”
The Orange Basin contains approximately 35% light oil, 40% condensate, and 30% gas, compared to the Campos Basin’s 85% light oil, 10% condensate, and 5% wet gas.
While the Orange Basin’s prospects are more gas-heavy, Mello argued that this enhances its long-term economic potential.
“Namibia has significant volumes of oil embedded within its gas reservoirs, offering a major opportunity for monetization,” he said. African energy chamber