Canadian oil and gas exploration company, Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica), is intensifying efforts to unlock petroleum resources in Namibia, Angola and Gabon, with fresh drilling, seismic studies and appraisal activities across the three countries.

The company’s immediate priority is Namibia, where it commenced horizontal drilling at its Kavango West 1X (KW1X) discovery well in October, targeting a wellbore of up to 1,000 metres to establish the commercial potential of its hydrocarbon discovery.

ReconAfrica, alongside its partners, BW Energy and Namibia’s national oil company, NAMCOR, secured the necessary regulatory approvals before commencing the drilling programme on October 19.

The horizontal well is designed to intersect natural fractures in the upper Huttenberg formation, with subsequent flow testing expected to establish sustained production rates, reservoir pressure response and the quantity of liquids in the gas stream.

In a September operational update, Brian Reinsborough, President and Chief Executive Officer of ReconAfrica, said: “We are excited to be moving forward with the open hole horizontal flow test at KW1X following successfully identifying the zone of interest in the upper Huttenberg formation.

“Measuring a flow rate and determining liquids content at KW1X are essential for moving towards a Final Investment Decision at the Kavango discovery and will provide valuable knowledge on the potential of 22 structures already mapped on our exploration licence in Namibia.”

The company expects to use the results to guide further appraisal activities and determine the investment requirements for developing the discovery.

In August, ReconAfrica announced that natural gas and potential liquids had flowed to the surface from the upper Huttenberg formation during preliminary testing. However, flow rates were not measured because of equipment limitations, making the ongoing horizontal testing important for establishing the well’s production potential.

Angola, Gabon exploration advances

Beyond Namibia, ReconAfrica is advancing preliminary exploration activities in Angola and technical evaluation of its offshore Ngulu block in Gabon.

In Angola, soil-sampling activities conducted in May and June 2026 produced encouraging preliminary results, which the company said suggested the presence of an active thermogenic petroleum system with potential liquid hydrocarbons.

The findings have encouraged the company to consider a 2D seismic programme in 2027 to establish the structural trend of the Damara Fold Belt across its Angolan acreage.

ReconAfrica said surface microseeps identified during the sampling exercise suggested possible vertical migration of hydrocarbons from deeper accumulations.

In Gabon, the company is reprocessing 3D seismic data covering its 1,214-square-kilometre Ngulu offshore block, which includes the Loba oil discovery.

The exercise, expected to be completed before the end of 2026, is designed to improve the identification of potential oil-bearing reservoirs, support resource assessment and guide the selection of locations for further appraisal drilling.

The company is also preparing for subsequent drilling activities as it evaluates the commercial potential of its Gabonese assets.

AEC backs African exploration investment

Commenting on the company’s strategy, NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC), said ReconAfrica had strengthened its operational focus under Reinsborough’s leadership, describing the renewed approach as Recon 2.0.

Ayuk, who held a fireside conversation with Reinsborough during African Energy Week, said the company required a turnaround, stronger execution and a clearer direction when the CEO assumed leadership.

“When Brian took the helm of ReconAfrica, the company needed more than a new executive in the chair. It needed a turnaround. It needed focus, credibility, stronger execution and somebody willing to tell the truth about the road ahead. Brian did not arrive selling fairy tales. He arrived with a plan. Recon 2.0,” Ayuk said.

He noted that frontier exploration required substantial financial resources, technical expertise and patience, stressing the importance of making investment decisions based on geological evidence.

“Frontier exploration is expensive, technical and humbling. Seismic does not respond to press releases, and a drill bit does not care about shareholder enthusiasm. The rock tells the truth,” he said.

Ayuk also emphasised the need for responsible operations, environmental protection and stronger participation by host communities in Africa’s oil and gas industry.

“You win people over by knowing your business, respecting the country where you operate and demonstrating that responsible energy development is not an enemy of environmental stewardship,” he said.

For ReconAfrica, the immediate challenge is to establish measurable and sustainable hydrocarbon flow rates at its Namibian discovery, while advancing exploration and appraisal opportunities in Angola and Gabon.

The outcome of the Kavango horizontal testing programme is expected to be particularly important in determining whether the company’s exploration success can translate into commercially viable petroleum development.