By Ajong Mbapndah L
Afentra plc is pressing ahead with its offshore oil development programme in Angola, with drilling of the Impala-2 well expected to begin in mid-October 2026 and first oil targeted for January 2027. The development is expected to strengthen the company’s production outlook as it advances the redevelopment of Block 3/05 and prepares to bring the promising Pacassa SW discovery into production.
According to an operational update issued by Afentra plc on October 12, the Africa-focused upstream oil and gas company and its joint venture partners have agreed to revise the drilling sequence, moving the Borr Grid drilling rig directly to Impala-2 before returning to complete the Pacassa SW sidetrack. The decision will allow drilling to proceed while final preparations and equipment mobilisation continue for Pacassa SW.
Impala-2 is expected to take approximately 80 days to drill and complete, with operations targeted for completion by the end of December. First oil is anticipated in January 2027, with initial gross production estimated at approximately 4,000 barrels per day, providing a welcome boost to Afentra’s growing Angola portfolio.
The development follows a successful intervention at Impala-1, which restored production and provided valuable information on reservoir pressure and productivity. The results have been incorporated into the final drilling plans for Impala-2, with Afentra anticipating a material increase in the field’s estimated incremental resources following completion of the well.
$60 Million Funding Agreement Strengthens Development Prospects
Afentra has also secured revised funding arrangements for Impala-2, with joint venture partners agreeing to finance the well directly rather than use the previously agreed carry mechanism. The partners have retained a well cost cap, reduced to $60 million gross, providing Afentra with protection against potential cost overruns.
The new arrangement will allow Afentra to participate in production revenues from first oil while benefiting from the full capital expenditure uplift available under the Block 3/05 Production Sharing Contract. For the company, the decision improves the commercial prospects of the development while maintaining financial discipline.
The agreement comes as Afentra continues to expand its interests in Angola, where the redevelopment of established offshore fields remains central to its growth plans. By concentrating on assets with existing infrastructure and production history, the company is seeking to increase output while managing development costs.
Pacassa Discovery Holds Promise of Significant New Resources
Attention will return to Pacassa SW following completion of Impala-2, with the discovery emerging as another important component of Afentra’s offshore development programme. The well encountered 136 metres of net oil pay, confirming an oil accumulation and strengthening expectations of additional resources within Block 3/05.
Operational difficulties restricting access to the original wellbore have necessitated a sidetrack, prompting the decision to adjust the drilling schedule. The Borr Grid rig will return to Pacassa SW after completing Impala-2, with first oil now expected during the first quarter of 2027 following connection to existing Pacassa production infrastructure.
Afentra is continuing to remap the discovery using information obtained from the well, with preliminary expectations pointing to potential incremental oil resources of up to approximately 70 million barrels. Updated estimates of oil in place and recoverable resources will be released once the technical assessment has been completed.
The discovery could prove particularly important for the longer-term future of Block 3/05, where additional resources and improvements in recovery from existing fields offer opportunities to sustain production and extend the economic life of established offshore assets.
McDade Confident in Angola’s Growing Potential
Afentra Chief Executive Officer Paul McDade welcomed the revised drilling programme, describing it as an important step toward maintaining operational momentum and bringing additional production onstream.
“The decision to move directly to Impala-2 provides operational flexibility, optimises the Block 3/05 drilling programme and enables us to maintain operational momentum,” McDade said.
With preparations for Impala-2 complete, McDade explained that the revised sequence would allow drilling to proceed while the company finalises arrangements for the Pacassa SW sidetrack. He reaffirmed Afentra’s confidence in the discovery, pointing to the encouraging geological results already obtained.
“Pacassa SW remains a high-priority discovered resource and has already delivered an excellent subsurface result confirming the material potential we see in this area,” he said.
McDade expressed confidence that both wells could be brought into production during the first quarter of 2027, providing opportunities for increased output and stronger cash generation. He also welcomed the revised funding arrangements for Impala-2, which will enable Afentra to participate in production revenues from first oil while retaining protection against cost overruns.
“Together with our partners, we continue to take a disciplined, pragmatic approach to the redevelopment of Block 3/05,” McDade said. “We now have two important production wells progressing through the programme, providing the potential for meaningful near-term production and cash flow growth as we continue to unlock the significant value within the asset.”
More Developments Ahead Across Angola Portfolio
Beyond Impala-2 and Pacassa SW, Afentra has several important developments lined up over the coming months. The company expects to issue a trading update in November 2026, while work continues toward completion of the Etu transaction and further progress on its other Angolan assets.
Operational updates are also expected on the redevelopment of the KON4 Quenguela Norte field and the assessment of exploration potential across the Kwanza Onshore portfolio. A hydraulic workover programme on Block 3/05 is planned for early 2027, offering further opportunities to improve production from existing wells.
The activities underline Afentra’s growing commitment to Angola, where independent oil companies are playing an increasingly important role in the redevelopment of mature fields. With established infrastructure, considerable remaining resources and continued interest from investors, the country’s offshore sector offers opportunities for companies prepared to invest in extending the productive lives of existing assets.
Angola remains one of Africa’s leading oil producers, and efforts to sustain output from mature fields have become increasingly important as the country seeks to attract investment, support government revenues and strengthen its petroleum industry. The redevelopment of assets such as Block 3/05 forms part of that wider effort, with new drilling and improved recovery techniques offering opportunities to offset declining production from older wells.
For Afentra, the immediate priority is the successful delivery of Impala-2, followed by completion of Pacassa SW and the advancement of other projects across its Angola portfolio. With two important wells targeting first oil in early 2027, the company is approaching a period that could significantly influence its production and financial performance.
The successful completion of both wells would strengthen Afentra’s position in Angola’s upstream sector and provide further encouragement for investment in the country’s established offshore fields, where considerable oil resources remain to be developed.