Rhino Reports Gas and Condensate Flow at Namibia’s Volans-1X

Offshore tests in Namibia’s Orange Basin have produced both natural gas and condensate, according to results released on Feb. 23 by Rhino Resources Namibia Ltd. The company reported flow rates of roughly 33 million cubic feet of gas per day alongside about 5,300 barrels per day of condensate during testing at the Volans-1X well. The well was drilled under exploration licence PEL 85, with drilling operations beginning in July 2025 and reaching a depth of approximately 4,500 metres below sea level by Aug. 30 of the same year.

Testing was conducted between Jan. 5 and Jan. 13, 2026 to measure flow performance and gather reservoir data. According to the company, the results confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons and demonstrated the well’s ability to sustain production levels. Rhino has not yet indicated whether the discovery will move toward development. Analysis of the gas also suggests relatively low impurity levels, with carbon dioxide estimated at 1% to 2% and hydrogen sulfide measured at roughly three parts per million.

A Third Discovery on PEL 85

The Volans-1X well forms part of Rhino Resources’ broader exploration campaign within the Orange Basin. Earlier activity on the same licence had already delivered encouraging results. In February 2025, the company announced a hydrocarbon discovery at the Sagittarius-1X well, marking the first notable find on PEL 85.

Further drilling later in the year encountered light oil at the Capricornus-1X well, where tests showed flow rates exceeding 11,000 barrels per day and no water during testing. When Rhino first announced the Volans-1X well in October 2025, it described the result as the company’s third consecutive discovery within the licence area. According to the operator, the Capricornus and Volans wells lie roughly 15 kilometres apart, suggesting the potential for a wider accumulation across the block.

Namibia’s Growing Offshore Momentum

The announcement follows a series of exploration campaigns that have brought renewed attention to Namibia’s offshore basins. The Orange Basin has attracted global interest since 2022, when TotalEnergies reported the Venus discovery and Shell confirmed hydrocarbons at the Graff prospect. Those discoveries helped place Namibia among the more closely watched frontier exploration regions.

Interest has continued to build since then. In 2024, Galp announced a discovery at the Mopane prospect, adding further momentum to exploration in the basin. More recently, in early February 2026, Petrobras acquired a 42.5% stake in a Namibian offshore licence through a partnership with TotalEnergies increasing industry confidence in the Orange Basin’s resource potential.