VAALCO advances Gabon drilling program, targets Q2 restart of Baobab offshore field

(WO) - VAALCO Energy has reported strong initial results from its ongoing offshore Gabon drilling campaign, while progressing additional development activity and a planned production restart offshore Côte d’Ivoire.

The company said the Etame 14H development well has been successfully drilled, completed and brought online in the Etame field’s Main Fault Block. The well encountered approximately 325 meters of net pay in Gamba reservoir sands, with better-than-expected porosity and permeability. Initial production rates reached approximately 4,850 bpd (2,850 bpd net to VAALCO).

Following the Etame 14H completion, the drilling rig has been mobilized to the Ebouri platform, where drilling has begun on the EEBOM-5H development well. The well is targeting an attic position through a sidetrack from a previously abandoned well, with additional workovers planned to support incremental production.

In parallel, VAALCO is advancing efforts to restore production at the Baobab field in Block CI-40 offshore Côte d’Ivoire. The Baobab FPSO has returned to location following a 47-day refurbishment program in Dubai and is currently undergoing reconnection of risers and subsea infrastructure. The company said production remains on track to restart by the end of second-quarter 2026.

The combined activity reflects a broader focus on near-term production gains and reserve additions across VAALCO’s West Africa portfolio. The Gabon drilling program is targeting incremental volumes through development of attic zones, while the Baobab restart is expected to bring previously shut-in capacity back online.

VAALCO said it will continue executing its 2026 capital program, with an emphasis on optimizing existing assets and advancing offshore development opportunities in the region.