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Etu Energias, the Angolan oil firm founded by ex-Sonangol chief Joaquim David, has launched a multi-well drilling and re-entry campaign on its signature Block 2/05 in the shallow waters of the Congo Basin.
The company announced the arrival of the Chinese-owned jack-up rig SMS ESSA Probe, built in 2020 at COSCO Shipping’s heavy industry yards. The rig, capable of operating in water depths up to 30 meters, will support at least three new development wells, one exploration probe, and five workovers of existing wells.
The campaign signals Etu Energias’ intent to ramp up production from Block 2/05, which currently yields about 14,000 barrels per day. The asset is operated by Etu Energias with a 30% stake, alongside Angolan independents Falcon Oil, Prodoil, Kotoil and Poliedro, who hold the remaining 70%.
Angola’s upstream regulator, the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), said the program aligns with the operator’s minimum work commitments and forms a critical plank of its approved growth strategy.
The drilling push comes as Etu Energias nears completion of the sale of its 10% interest in Block 3/05 and 13.34% in Block 3/05A to London-listed Afentra and Paris-based Maurel & Prom. Both assets lie in shallow waters of Angola’s Lower Congo Basin.
Formerly known as Somoil, Etu Energias has recast itself as a nimble local player, aiming to optimize legacy assets while chasing fresh upstream growth in Angola’s maturing basins.
