After several attempts at retrieval the company has been forced to apply specialist logging equipment which has been mobilised from overseas.

While waiting for the equipment, drilling has continued to a depth of 3,679m. Preparations are now underway to re-commence logging operations with the newly-arrived specialist logging equipment.

The Nyuni prospect may hold recoverable reserves of up to 260 million barrels of oil (mmbo) or if gas is present, 870 billion cubic feet (bcf).

Nyuni-1 is the first of two sequential wells being drilled on the Nyuni offshore licence and operating from small islands. The second well, Okuza-1, will test a separate but adjacent structure and will be drilled from Okuza Island.

Participants in the well include Bounty Oil & Gas NL 10% (earning), Ndovu Resources Ltd 60% (operator) and Petrom SA 30%.