Shell to Launch New Drilling Campaign Offshore Namibia

Shell is preparing a new offshore drilling campaign in Namibia’s Orange Basin within PEL 39. The plan includes the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig and a program built around one firm well with an option for another. For leaders across HR, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Operations, this move shifts attention from appraisal talk to execution. The priority now is to align people, suppliers, approvals, and reporting to a clear calendar so the campaign starts smoothly and runs safely.

Key takeaways

• The Deepsea Mira is slated for PEL 39 in Namibia’s Orange Basin.
• One firm well and one optional well frame the scope and schedule.
• A 45 day firm slot demands tight logistics, rapid hiring, and fast approvals.
• Vendor tiers, service levels, and change control protect uptime and cost.
• Evidence packs for licences, training, safety, and payroll reduce audit risk.
• Integration between HR, finance, logistics, and marine systems cuts delays.
• A simple operating cadence turns complex offshore tasks into routine work.

PEL 39 and Orange Basin context

Offshore Namibia has moved from frontier interest to a basin with multiple light oil and gas condensate finds. PEL 39 sits in a block where Shell and its partners have advanced technical work and planning. The area benefits from growing regional experience, expanding port capacity, and a service ecosystem that now includes marine logistics, aviation, safety training, and laboratory networks across southern Africa.

Partners and operator roles

Shell operates PEL 39 in partnership with QatarEnergy and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia. Each partner brings capital, subsurface insight, and execution experience. For internal planning, leaders should map decision rights, reporting flows, and escalation paths between operator and partners. A clear RACI prevents duplicate requests and keeps approvals on time.

Why Deepsea Mira was selected

The Deepsea Mira is a sixth generation harsh environment semi-submersible managed by Odfjell Drilling. The unit’s specifications match the Orange Basin’s conditions and water depths. For non technical teams, the key point is the rig’s operating envelope, its supply needs, and the expected tempo of offshore work. These determine crew sizes, rotation patterns, fuel and water demand, aviation slots, and port movements.

Scope and rig timeline

Public contract disclosures point to one firm well with an option for an additional well in 2026. A firm slot of about 45 days is typical for a single exploration or appraisal well, with variability driven by weather, logistics, and subsurface conditions.

One firm well and an option

The firm well is the anchor that drives hiring, procurement, and financial planning. The optional well is the lever that extends activity if results and conditions justify it. Planning for both is prudent. Budgets, vendor contracts, and crew rosters should include a path to scale from one well to two without rework.

Expected 45 day firm slot

A 45 day window concentrates risk and opportunity. Every day counts. Leaders can protect the schedule by locking four items early:

1. Aviation plan: fixed-wing and helicopter slots booked in advance, with contingency buffers.
2. Marine plan: platform supply vessels scheduled for drilling fluids, fuel, water, and backload.
3. People plan: rotations and backfills mapped, visas and right-to-work checks cleared.
4. Lab plan: sample handling and lab capacity arranged, including second-choice labs if needed.

What leaders must plan now

The best time to remove friction is before mobilisation. A cross-functional plan turns unknowns into repeatable work.

Hiring and rotations

• Crew model: identify headcount for drilling contractor, well services, marine operations, aviation, safety, catering, and site medics.
• Rotations: adopt 28/28 or 21/21 patterns based on policy and vendor standards. Align handover days with marine and aviation schedules to avoid idle time offshore.
• Right-to-work: verify passports, seafarer books, work permits, and professional credentials. Store secure copies in a single repository with role-based access.
• Training: mandate BOSIET or FOET, medical fitness, H2S awareness, and site inductions. Track expiry dates and set alerts 30 and 60 days ahead.
• Local talent: partner with Namibian training bodies to fill support roles and build a local pipeline for future campaigns.

Vendor tiers and service levels

Structure suppliers so the core is resilient and the periphery is flexible:

• Tier 1: drilling services, marine logistics, aviation, well services, waste management.
• Tier 2: safety and medical, fuel and water, catering, environmental monitoring, metocean services.
• Tier 3: overflow capacity for spikes, specialized troubleshooting, and seasonal needs.

Set service levels for response time, delivery accuracy, safety reporting, and incident closure. Require change control for scope updates. Keep a live issues log with owners, due dates, and status so nothing stalls the line.

Compliance and evidence

Offshore projects run under a tight web of laws, permits, and contractual duties. Getting the paperwork right is not enough. You need proof that duties were met on time.

Offshore approvals and reports

Keep a tracker for:

• Exploration and drilling authorisations with conditions and renewal windows.
• Environmental and social management plans, monitoring points, and reporting due dates.
• Maritime approvals, port clearances, and aviation permits.
• Emergency response plans, exercises, and outcomes.
• Community engagement commitments and meeting notes.

Archive signed approvals, correspondence, monitoring logs, and proofs of delivery. Index records by permit number and date. This reduces audit cost and response time.

Safety, training, and records

Safety is the first constraint, not a box to tick. Maintain:

• Competency matrices for every role and contractor.
• Training evidence for mandatory offshore and site-specific modules.
• Daily toolbox talks, permit to work logs, and stop-work events.
• Incident reports with root causes, corrective actions, and follow-ups.
• Drills for medical evacuation, spill response, and fire. Record timings and lessons.

A short weekly safety summary keeps executives informed without drowning them in detail.

Logistics and marine support

Offshore operations are a choreography of port calls, flights, weather windows, and vessel movements. Small delays compound quickly, so clarity beats heroics.

Ports, fuel, and marine services

• Base selection: map port capabilities, storage, draft, customs processes, and truck access.
• Vessel plan: reserve platform supply vessels with backup capacity. Confirm deck space, crane limits, and hose kits.
• Bunkering: secure fuel volumes with buffer stocks and test certificates.
• Water and drilling fluids: plan batch production, storage, and quality checks.
• Waste and backload: pre-approve disposal routes and manifests to avoid quayside delays.

Sample chains and lab capacity

• Chain of custody: use barcoded containers and seal logs.
• Transport: coordinate cool chain or pressure canister needs for specific samples.
• Labs: secure primary and secondary labs with clear turnaround targets.
• Quality control: insert standards and duplicates at set intervals.
• Data release: do not circulate results until quality checks are complete and approvals are in place.

Finance and risk controls

The cost profile of a deepwater well is dominated by the rig, major services, and logistics. Clarity on cash flow, approvals, and risk ownership removes surprises.

Cash flow and cost drivers

• Calendar: align cash call cycles to rig day rates, mobilisation fees, and milestone payments.
• Approvals: set pre-approved thresholds for urgent spend with next-day documentation.
• Foreign exchange: hedge where policy allows, and price critical spares with buffer.
• Accruals: reconcile daily rig status and vessel days to finance entries to keep books accurate.
• Variance reviews: weekly reviews of spend versus plan with reasons for over- or under-runs.

Risk register and mitigations

• Weather: maintain metocean monitoring and flexible sailing windows.
• Supply chain: hold critical spares, dual source key items, and pre-clear customs documents.
• People: have trained backfills ready for medical or family events.
• Community: keep regular contact with local leaders and record concerns with actions.
• Regulatory: run internal pre-audits against permit conditions before inspectors arrive.

Assign each risk an owner, a trigger, and a clear action plan.

Technology and data quality

Good data allows faster decisions and fewer disputes. Poor data does the opposite.

System integration needs

• HR: track rotations, training, and right-to-work expiry dates.
• Logistics: integrate flight, vessel, storage, and inventory systems.
• Finance: tie daily operational logs to accruals and invoices.
• Document control: use a central, permissioned repository with version control.

Remove duplicate entry. Make one system the source for each field. Run daily sync checks to catch mismatches early.

Dashboards and alerts

Executives do not need dozens of charts. They need a few reliable signals:

• Rig status, well phase, and non-productive time.
• Helicopter and vessel schedules for the next seven days.
• People on board, training due, and medical fitness expiry.
• Spend versus plan and accruals year to date.
• Open actions by owner and due date.

Set alerts for expiring permits, training lapses, fuel below buffer, or lab backlog. Route alerts to named owners, not group inboxes.

Engagement and reputation

Community trust and environmental care are not separate from operations. They are part of running on time and within budget.

Community and stakeholder plans

• Publish a simple schedule of noisy activities and expected traffic.
• Maintain a single point of contact for community leaders and first responders.
• Record minutes of meetings, questions raised, and actions taken.
• Run local procurement days to onboard small suppliers and meet compliance needs.
• Offer site visits for officials and community representatives with safety inductions.

Environmental stewardship basics

• Store fuel and chemicals with secondary containment and spill kits.
• Track waste by type, quantity, and disposal route, with certificates.
• Monitor marine wildlife interactions and implement pause protocols when required.
• Rehearse spill response with ports and third-party specialists.
• Report environmental metrics on time and keep raw data for verification.

Role-specific checklists

HR and talent

• Approve rotations, travel policies, and allowances.
• Validate training matrices, refresher plans, and medicals.
• Confirm visa and right-to-work requirements for all nationalities.
• Prepare onboarding packs and site induction schedules.
• Build a bench of pre-qualified backfills.

Procurement and contracts

• Finalize Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendor lists with performance gates.
• Sign master service agreements with clear service levels and penalties.
• Lock change control and rate review mechanisms.
• Pre-approve substitution items and alternates for critical consumables.
• Keep a dispute log with root causes and closure notes.

Legal and compliance

• Build the permit tracker with conditions and owners.
• Confirm insurance certificates and endorsements.
• Prepare reporting templates for ministry deadlines and partner updates.
• Run a file audit for landfall operations, port permits, and aviation documents.
• Coordinate document holds and retention rules with finance and operations.

Finance and treasury

• Map cash calls and payment calendars.
• Set up vendor onboarding, tax documentation, and banking verification.
• Implement three-way match between service tickets, delivery notes, and invoices.
• Run weekly accrual meetings with operations and marine.
• Track foreign exchange exposures and update buffers.

Operations and marine

• Validate metocean data sources and daily forecasts.
• Confirm vessel deck plans, lifting plans, and cargo manifests.
• Test communications redundancy and power backups.
• Approve permit to work processes for every well phase.
• Drill emergency response, then capture lessons learned.

Operating cadence that keeps teams aligned

A simple cadence reduces surprises and prevents last minute scrambles.

• Daily: 15 minute cross-functional stand-up covering safety, rig status, marine and aviation schedules, and critical actions.
• Weekly: performance review on metres drilled, non-productive time, fuel and water status, open actions, and lab turnaround.
• Biweekly: cost and variance review with finance and project controls.
• Monthly: partner update with milestones, spend, and risk posture.
• Quarterly: scenario review for optional well and long-lead items.

Publish minutes in a shared workspace within 24 hours. Close actions before adding new ones.

Q and A for decision makers

When does the campaign begin
The rig schedule targets a 2026 start in PEL 39. The firm slot is sized for one well, with an option to extend if results and logistics align.

What unit is being used
The Deepsea Mira semi-submersible, managed by Odfjell Drilling, is planned for the campaign. Its capacity suits the basin’s water depths and weather.

How long will the firm well take
A firm slot of about 45 days is typical, depending on weather, logistics, and subsurface conditions. Build contingency into the plan for non-productive time.

What are the top hiring priorities
Secure experienced offshore supervisors, drilling crews, marine coordinators, aviation dispatchers, safety staff, medics, and logistics planners. Complete training and medicals well before mobilisation.

Which approvals are critical
Exploration and drilling authorisations, environmental approvals, maritime and aviation permits, and port clearances. Store signed copies and evidence of compliance in a central repository.

How do we control cost without slowing work
Lock rate cards, enforce change control, reconcile daily rig and vessel status to finance entries, and use a second lab to avoid assay delays that waste rig time.

What could delay the program
Weather windows, aviation or marine bottlenecks, lab backlogs, and late approvals. Each needs an owner, a trigger level, and a defined response.

Scenario planning for the optional well

If the first well meets technical and safety targets, leaders should be ready to extend. Create two parallel paths:

• Go path: confirm service capacity, extend crew rotations, and pre-position consumables.
• Pause path: demobilize cleanly, complete reports, and preserve lessons learned.

Financial models should carry both paths so approvals are quicker and contracts do not need full renegotiation.

Skills development and local value

International campaigns succeed when they develop local skills and supplier capacity. Practical steps include:

• Partnering with Namibian training centers for entry-level offshore roles.
• Running vendor clinics to help local firms meet safety and documentation standards.
• Publishing a rolling three-month plan so small suppliers can prepare for demand.
• Tracking spend with local firms and reporting progress to stakeholders.

These steps build trust and create a more resilient supply base for future phases.

Data integrity and transparency

Executives make faster choices when data is consistent. Align three areas:

• Definitions: agree what counts as non-productive time, a lost-time incident, or a critical defect.
• Time stamps: use a single time zone for logs, flights, and finance entries.
• IDs: give every well, service ticket, and invoice a unique ID to link records.

With these basics, dashboards become reliable rather than decorative.

A four week readiness sprint

Week 1

• Confirm permit tracker, partner RACI, and insurance certificates.
• Freeze vendor lists and finalize service levels.
• Approve rotation plans, training matrices, and medical schedules.

Week 2

• Lock marine and aviation schedules with backups.
• Test inventory counts, storage capacity, and lifting plans.
• Publish the finance calendar for cash calls and payment cutoffs.

Week 3

• Run a document audit for approvals, safety, and training.
• Validate sample chains and lab capacity, with a second lab on call.
• Hold a community briefing on traffic, noise, and safety numbers.

Week 4

• Conduct a full-day tabletop covering weather delays, spill response, and medical evacuation.
• Final check of visas, right-to-work files, and travel bookings.
• Executive review of risks, owners, and acceptance of residual exposure.

Where Africa Deployments helps

Local onboarding and payroll

Mobilising offshore talent on time requires lawful hiring, secure banking setup, and reliable pay cycles. Africa Deployments Ltd supports right-to-work checks, onboarding, and payroll aligned to Namibia’s rules. Teams gain predictable pay dates, proper documentation, and faster readiness for rotations.

Documentation and audits

Boards and authorities expect proof, not claims. Africa Deployments Ltd maintains employment records, training evidence, and payment files in an audit-ready structure. When inspectors or partners request documents, the evidence is already indexed by permit and period, which shortens reviews and protects credibility.

Conclusion and next steps

Shell’s planned campaign in PEL 39 brings Namibia’s offshore momentum into a concrete 2026 schedule. The ingredients for a smooth start are straightforward. Publish the calendar, hire and train early, lock vendor tiers and service levels, keep a clean evidence pack, and integrate systems so data matches across HR, logistics, and finance. With these steps in place, leaders can spend more time interpreting results and less time unblocking paperwork.

Africa Deployments Ltd helps organizations execute these fundamentals across African markets. The team enables lawful onboarding, accurate payroll, and audit-ready documentation that aligns with offshore schedules and partner expectations. By partnering with Africa Deployments Ltd, executives can focus on safe drilling and timely decisions, confident that people, pay, and compliance foundations are secure.