Vaalco Energy Completed Gabon Drilling Program
The company has shifted its focus to a major new offshore drilling campaign in Côte d'Ivoire.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Vaalco Energy has successfully finished its Phase 3 drilling program in Gabon's SE Etame field. Following the completion of the ETSEM-3H development well, the firm has transitioned its operations to the Baobab field in Côte d'Ivoire.
Why it matters
The transition marks a strategic pivot to new assets expected to drive production growth. By demobilizing its drilling rig from Gabon to begin the intensive Baobab program, the company aims to scale its output significantly by 2027.
The completed ETSEM-3H well produces approximately 2,000 gross barrels of oil per day, with 1,140 barrels net to Vaalco. The new Baobab Phase 5 program consists of four producers, three water injectors, and two workovers.
The players
Vaalco Energy
Vaalco Energy is an independent energy company headquartered in Houston that focuses on oil and gas exploration and production in Africa.
The details
The ETSEM-3H well was finalized using a 300-meter lateral wellbore drilled into reservoir sands. In Côte d'Ivoire, the multi-phase Baobab operation has commenced with the batch-setting of top-holes to prepare for full-scale development.
Timeline
October 7, 2026: Vaalco Energy announced its latest operational updates.
Q2 2026: The Baobab field drilling operations re-started.
End of 2026: The first new producer from the Baobab campaign is expected online.
2027: The company expects to realize meaningful production increases.
Market Landscape
This move reflects a broader trend of independent energy firms optimizing their asset portfolios through targeted regional capital allocation. By transitioning rigs from mature fields to higher-potential zones, Vaalco Energy maintains competitive production levels against larger industry rivals.
Investors and stakeholders can expect potential changes to company valuation as these new wells begin contributing to the firm's total output. The successful deployment of capital in these projects serves as a key indicator for the company's long-term production stability.
The takeaway
Vaalco Energy is successfully executing a multi-year plan to rotate its drilling assets across its West African portfolio to optimize extraction. Shareholders should monitor production volume reports through 2027 to gauge the effectiveness of the new Baobab Phase 5 campaign.
What happens next
The company expects the first new producer in the Baobab campaign to come online by the end of 2026, with further production increases projected throughout 2027.
Further reading
For more on industry infrastructure and development, visit our Oil and Gas section.
More information
For more information on these operations, visit the Vaalco Energy company website.
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