France’s Total said Oct. 28 the company and its partners have made a second significant gas condensate discovery offshore South Africa, where net pay was hit in the Outeniqua Basin.

The Luiperd well, adjacent to the play-opening Brulpadda discovery in 2019, was drilled to a total depth of about 3,400 m. Total said the well encountered 73 m of net gas condensate pay in Lower Cretaceous reservoirs.

‘’With this discovery and the successful seismic acquisitions, Total and its partners have acquired important data on the Paddavissie fairway, which will help to progress development studies and engage with South African authorities regarding the possible conditions of the gas commercialization,” Arnaud Breuillac, president of E&P for Total, said in a news release.

The discovery on the 19,000-sq-km Block 11B/12B proves the “world-class nature of the offshore gas play,” Breuillac said. Water depths on the block range from 200 m to 1,800.

Holding a 45% working interest, Total is the operator of the block. Partners are Qatar Petroleum (25%), CNR International (20%) and South African consortium Main Street (10%).

Offshore