British energy company Chariot has given the green light to its second drilling operation in northern Morocco. The OBA-1 well was successfully drilled and marks a significant milestone in the Company’s exploration campaign.
Duncan Wallace, technical director, was enthusiastic before drilling began. “We are excited to begin the second well of this drilling campaign,” he said. “We are testing independent prospects in the direction of Dartois gas discoveries located in other fields. We look forward to receiving an update on the results in due course,” he stressed.
Chariot holds a 30% stake in the Lixus Offshore license, which covers an area of approximately 1,794 square kilometers in northern Morocco. This license is shared with Energean, which holds 45%, and ONHYM, which holds 25%.
Production from the Dartois field is estimated at 12 billion cubic barrels. The independent study concerns a different collection style from that of the Gaufrette study carried out on the RZK-1 well. The success of the OBA-1 well could reveal future trends, combined with the best estimate of a potential recoverable resource of 20 billion cubic barrels.
In 2019, Chariot Oil & Gas announced the discovery of a natural gas field in the Dartois region of northern Morocco. The gas field named “Anchois” is located approximately 100 km north of the city of Nador, in the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region. According to Chariot Oil & Gas, the gas field has approximately 1.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.
The company began exploring the area in 2018 and announced the discovery of the gas field in September 2019 after months of drilling. The discovery of the Dartois gas field is seen as a major breakthrough as the country seeks to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on imports.
Morocco is developing a natural gas and oil sector thanks to recent discoveries of deposits and explorations carried out by large international companies such as Chariot and Energean, which are based in the United Kingdom and have a strong presence in Israel.
Morocco wants to invest in natural gas as part of its energy mix, which can replace other energy sources such as oil. Indeed, natural gas has a low impact on the environment. However, it is using renewable energy as part of its energy future.
The goal is to obtain 52% of the country’s energy from renewable energy sources by 2030. In fact, it has implemented an investment plan to attract funds from domestic investors and foreigners through a new investment charter. The aim is to attract capital for domestic investments.
Natural gas production in Morocco can benefit the country’s economy in several ways. Exploration and production helps diversify the Moroccan economy, reducing its dependence on a single economic sector.
On the other hand, it can create jobs and stimulate economic growth in Morocco. Moroccan production could benefit Europe by diversifying Europe’s oil and natural gas supply, thereby reducing its dependence on oil and natural gas imports from distant countries.
Europe could thus obtain hydrocarbons at a better price. Chariot Maroc is also committed to working with local authorities to develop sustainable and efficient public transport solutions and to promote electric mobility and the reduction of emissions. However, it is important to note that natural gas production can also have a negative impact on the environment if not properly managed.
