ReconAfrica Announces Hydrocarbon Flow from the Elandshoek Formation at Kavango West 1X, Proceeding to Test the Huttenberg Formation with Net Pay Identified
Rhea-AI Summary
ReconAfrica (OTCQX: RECAF), with partners BW Energy and NAMCOR, reported preliminary production testing results from the Elandshoek formation in the Kavango West 1X discovery well in Namibia. Three lower Elandshoek zones were perforated and tested; the uppermost 47-metre zone flowed natural gas and liquids to surface on three tests, with hydrocarbons flared after sampling about eight litres for laboratory compositional analysis in the United States.
The company is now moving test equipment to three identified zones in the shallower Huttenberg formation, covering 182 metres of reservoir with 76 net metres of hydrocarbon pay on logs. Testing is expected to take about 10 days per zone, with the next update targeted for late August. ReconAfrica is also evaluating a potential horizontal or deviated sidetrack in the upper Elandshoek to better intersect natural fractures and potentially increase flow rates.
Positive
- First hydrocarbons flowed to surface onshore Namibia from Elandshoek’s upper zone, according to ReconAfrica
- Three Elandshoek zones over 163 metres perforated, acid soaked and production tested
- Upper Elandshoek tubing pressure rose to 2,300 psi before second flow test, which ReconAfrica says indicates hydrocarbon deliverability
- Huttenberg formation to be tested across 182 metres with 76 net metres of identified hydrocarbon pay
- Well cased and cemented across 1,657-metre Otavi section, enabling individual testing of six optimized zones
Negative
- Accurate flow rates unavailable from the Elandshoek upper zone due to equipment limitations during testing
- Extended testing timeline of up to ~10 days per Huttenberg zone before further production updates
News Explained
Surface flow has been demonstrated, but completed Elandshoek testing still lacks a measured rate and laboratory-confirmed composition.
The
The uppermost zone flowed on three occasions during approximately 24 hours of intermittent production. Tubing pressure reached
ReconAfrica collected approximately eight litres of hydrocarbons for United States laboratory analysis and flared the remaining production. The analysis is expected in the coming weeks and is intended to distinguish natural gas and associated liquids from possible load-fluid recovery.
That laboratory result is the named next checkpoint for determining the produced fluids' composition; the release does not yet provide a measured production rate.
News Market Reaction – RECAF
In the Jul 16 session, RECAF declined 18.69%, reflecting a significant negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
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CALGARY, Alberta, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (the “Company”, “ReconAfrica”) (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF) (Frankfurt: 0XD) (NSX: REC), along with its partners BW Energy (
ReconAfrica has completed production testing the lowest three zones located in the Elandshoek formation. Testing in the uppermost zone in the Elandshoek successfully produced natural gas to surface on three separate flow tests. Production samples have been collected for lab analysis with the rest of the produced hydrocarbons flared at surface. The results of the compositional analysis are expected in the coming weeks from samples to be sent to laboratories in the United States.
Testing equipment is currently being moved up hole to continue production testing the three identified zones in the shallower Huttenberg formation. The three Huttenberg zones will test 182 metres of reservoir section, including 76 net metres of hydrocarbon pay identified on well log tests. It is estimated that testing may take up to approximately 10 days per zone and therefore management estimates providing the next production test update by approximately late August.
Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO, commented: “We are very excited to have produced hydrocarbons to surface on the Kavango West production test, which are the first hydrocarbons ever produced to surface onshore Namibia. Knowing that the Elandshoek formation had naturally fractured carbonate rocks, we are pleased to learn that those fractures support production. Our operations team is working on a possible open hole horizontal or deviated sidetrack from this wellbore to intersect a larger reservoir interval and the natural fracture network across the structure. Based on global analogue reservoirs, we believe a significant uplift in productivity rates could be realized by this operation. Our operational team is now focused on production testing the significant net hydrocarbon column in the Huttenburg formation.”
Production Test Highlights:
- The entire Otavi section (1,657 metres), inclusive of the Huttenberg and Elandshoek formations, were cased and cemented with production casing. This wellbore configuration allows the Company to individually test the six optimized zones, which were identified by well log analysis. Although the production casing configuration is necessary for this first stage of production testing, production casings can restrict optimal access to natural reservoir factures. After proving the natural flow of hydrocarbons encountered from this zone, the next step following the completion of the remaining perforated zone tests would be to potentially drill a horizontal or deviated (i.e. slanted) sidetrack extension through the upper Elandshoek formation to better encounter the natural fractures across the Kavango structure to obtain higher flow rates. By analogue to similarly naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs globally, data shows significant production rate uplift from horizontal, or deviated, wells compared against vertical wells. Management believes the Huttenberg formation, where pay has been calculated from well log analysis, has substantial matrix porosity which should be able to produce with the current wellbore configuration.
- Three separate zones across a total of 163 metres of the Elandshoek formation were perforated, acid soaked and production tested. The upper most zone of the Elandshoek formation flowed hydrocarbons to surface for sample collection and flaring.
- The uppermost zone of the Elandshoek formation (47 metres) was production tested and flared on three separate occasions. The well was open for flow for a total of approximately 24 hours during which natural gas and liquids were produced at intermittent levels. However, due to equipment limitations it was not possible to collect accurate measurements of flow test rates. Tubing pressures increased between each of the production tests, increasing to a measured 2,300 psi through the 5-inch production casing prior to the second flow test, which indicates hydrocarbon deliverability.
- ReconAfrica recovered several IsoTubes from approximately eight litres of hydrocarbon samples collected at surface, which will be sent to the United States for compositional analysis. All other production of hydrocarbons was flared at surface. The laboratory tests of the collected samples will provide a compositional analysis to discern between the presence of natural gas and any associated natural gas liquids from the reservoir from possible load fluid recovery.
About ReconAfrica
ReconAfrica is a Canadian oil and gas company engaged in the exploration of the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia, southeastern Angola and northwestern Botswana, where the Company holds petroleum licences and access to ~13 million contiguous acres. The Company also operates the Ngulu block in the shallow waters offshore central Gabon. In all aspects of its operations, ReconAfrica is committed to minimal disturbance of habitat in line with international standards and implementing environmental and social best practices in its project areas.
For further information contact:
Brian Reinsborough, President & Chief Executive Officer
Mark Friesen, Vice President, Investor Relations & Capital Markets
IR Inquiries Email: investors@reconafrica.com
Media Inquiries Email: media@reconafrica.com
Tel: +1-877-631-1160
Cautionary Note Regarding Short Term Results:
References in this press release to production test results, initial test production flows and other short-term test information are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such well will enter into production, nor is it indicative of future production capability, economics, decline and ultimate reserves. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such information. Well-test interpretation has not been carried out in respect of the well. Accordingly, the Company cautions that the test results should be considered to be preliminary.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under applicable Canadian, United States and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, statements with respect to progress of the KW1X well test, well results including any shows and/or indications of hydrocarbons, timing of well tests, duration and completion of the well test, the ability to source adequately materials needed for the well test in a timely manner, results from production testing, net pay and net reservoir calculations, the results from production and rate testing, extent of natural fractures, success case scenarios, side track operations if any, well capability, efficiency and economics and the Company’s commitment to minimal disturbance of habitat, in line with best international standards and its implementation of environmental and social best practices in its project areas. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on ReconAfrica's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's annual information form (“AIF”) dated April 14, 2026, for the financial period ended December 31, 2025, available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual future results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to ReconAfrica. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and ReconAfrica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
