Frontera Energy Corporation and CGX Energy announced the spudding of the Kawa-1 exploration well, offshore Guyana.

The Kawa-1 well is located in the northeast quadrant of the Corentyne block, approximately 200 kilometers offshore from Georgetown. The water depth is approximately 355 meters (1174 ft) and the expected total depth of the Kawa-1 well is 6,685 meters (21,932 ft).

The Maersk Discoverer was used to spud the well.

With multiple opportunities based on internal geological studies, the Kawa-1 well targets light oil in combination structural-stratigraphic traps in large Santonian and Campanian slope fan complexes. The primary target is a Santonian sand with updip and lateral pinchout of the reservoir, as well as counter-regional dip and structural closure. The Kawa-1 well is also expected to penetrate secondary objectives in a shallower Campanian sand and a deeper Santonian sand with the expectation of targeting additional hydrocarbon potential. The stacked targets in Kawa-1 are considered analogous to the discoveries immediately adjacent to the Corentyne Block, in Block 58 in Suriname.

Additionally, the Kawa-1 well is expected to de-risk multiple other prospects on the block which also have stacked reservoirs and similar structural geometries. Proximity of the Corentyne block to the Cretaceous Berbice Canyon sediment source is interpreted to have concentrated sandstone reservoirs in the North Corentyne area. Channelized, stacked internal fan geometries evident on 3D seismic are indicative of thick, stacked, coarser-grained sand reservoirs.

CGX Energy Inc. is Frontera’s majority-owned subsidiary, and its joint venture partner in the Demerara and Corentyne blocks .

The Joint Venture has also indicated that it exercised its option to drill a second well with Maersk Drilling Holdings Singapore Pte through the use of Maersk Discoverer.

The Joint Venture expects the Kawa-1 well to reach total depth in the first half of December 2021.

Gabriel de Alba, Chairman of Frontera's Board of Directors and Co-Chair of CGX's Board of Directors said “Today is an important day for Frontera and CGX as we continue to make substantial progress in realizing the value of our investments in Guyana. The Joint Venture has spud the Kawa-1 well, which we believe is one of the most exciting exploration wells in the world. The Joint Venture has also exercised its option to drill a second well offshore Guyana under similar terms and conditions. I am pleased with this major operational milestone for Frontera and CGX and appreciate the ongoing support of the Guyanese government, our employees, and our other various partners as we work together to maximize benefits for all of our stakeholders."