ERHC Energy has commenced exploratory drilling at the Malanza 1X well in Joint Development Zone (JDZ) Block 4. It is the next phase in the comprehensive drilling campaign that began in August.

Addax Petroleum, ERHC's technical partner and the operator of JDZ Blocks 3 and 4, is using Transocean's Deepwater Pathfinder, a fifth generation dynamically positioned deepwater drilling rig, in this campaign. Drilling of the Malanza 1X well is estimated to take approximately five weeks, although the actual timing is dependent on many factors, such as drilling penetration rate, fluids encountered, borehole stability and equipment maintenance, among others.

The Malanza 1X is the fourth well drilled during the current campaign, which encompasses JDZ Blocks 2, 3 and 4. It is the second well drilled in JDZ Block 4, in which ERHC has a 19.5 percent interest.

"We are thrilled that the drilling campaign continues to progress on schedule and we look forward to the release of comprehensive drilling results when the operators complete their analyses," said Peter Ntephe, chief operating officer with ERHC.

Last week, Addax finished drilling a well at the Lemba 1X prospect in JDZ Block 3 in which ERHC has a 10 percent interest. A comprehensive analysis that incorporates the drilling results into relevant geologic and fluid models will now be carried out. The information from these wells is helping the exploration team understand the geology and hydrocarbon potential of the various prospects being drilled and provides valuable insight into the prospectivity of the entire area.

ERHC Energy has interests in six of the nine Blocks in the offshore JDZ. The Company has additional interests in the territorial waters of Democratic Republic of São Tomé & Príncipe known as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Tags: ERHC Energy Inc.