Energy major Chevron has announced a major oil and gas condensate discovery at the 105-4X exploration well situated within Block 0, offshore Angola.

Drilled deep within the prolific Lower Congo Basin, the well encountered a hydrocarbon column exceeding 600 metres within the primary Pinda reservoir. Operations recorded more than 90 metres of net pay, with technical teams describing the reservoir quality as exceptional. Rather than standing alone, the newly identified reserves will be evaluated for potential development as a subsea tieback connecting directly to Chevron’s existing regional infrastructure, providing a capital-efficient route to commercial production.

Kevin McLachlan, Chevron’s Vice President of Exploration, emphasised the strategic significance of the find. He noted that the milestone builds upon the company’s established seven-decade operational history in the African nation, demonstrating the ongoing viability of combining high-impact exploration with infrastructure-led development near established production hubs.

Block 0 is operated by Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC), a subsidiary of Chevron. The asset is held through a joint venture comprising Sonangol E&P, TotalEnergies, and Azule Energy. Situated in the shallow waters off Cabinda—typically ranging between 50 and 400 metres in depth—the mature concession already hosts numerous producing fields and operational platforms.

While corporate announcements did not formally disclose the specific drilling unit deployed for the 105-4X well, industry tracking indicates that the Shelf Drilling Tenacious jackup rig has maintained a continuous operational contract with CABGOC for Block 0 activities since 2022, securing commitments through at least February 2027. Given its status as the primary jackup rig active within the shallow-water concession, industry analysts consider it the probable drilling vessel behind the latest discovery.