Merlin-1X well yields high-quality light oil with minimal gas, bolstering Namibia’s emerging status as a major exploration frontier.
QatarEnergy announced its tenth oil discovery offshore Namibia, with the Merlin-1X well in Petroleum Exploration License 39 (PEL 39) encountering light oil and strong reservoir quality. The company described the results as the most promising in the license to date, with limited associated gas, a favorable combination for production potential.
The discovery follows a series of successful wells in Namibia’s Orange Basin, where majors including Shell and TotalEnergies have also reported significant finds. Namibia’s exploration streak has drawn comparisons to other emerging oil provinces, though commercial viability remains unproven.
No immediate market reaction was reported, but the discovery reinforces Namibia’s growing profile in global energy exploration.