Walk this way: Rhino targets six exploration wells in emerging natural gas-helium play

Cape Town-based independent Rhino Resources has filed plans to drill at least six exploration wells on acreage onshore South Africa that has the potential to house significant volumes of both natural gas and helium.

Rhino is better-known in industry circles for the major stake it holds in a highly sought-after block in Namibia’s Orange basin — Azule Energy recently farmed in to that acreage — but before then had been building an exploration portfolio onshore and offshore South Africa.

Onshore, the privately owned player has applied for exploration rights (ERs) in the provinces of Mpumalanga (379) and Free State (377 and 378), and has just kicked off the environmental approval processes for each of these areas.

These onshore South African plays are developing into a local hotbed of upstream activities with companies such as Kinetiko and Renergen creating viable businesses.

In each of the ERs, Rhino aims to carry out an aeromagnetic survey and drill at least two exploration wells.

The proposed 250,000-hectare ER 379 lies just west of Eswatini and in districts including Middleburg, Carolina, Bethal, Wakkerstroom, Ermelo and Amersfoort.

The smaller 150,000-hectare ER 377 covers the districts of Kroonstad, Koppies, Lindley, Heilbron and Edenville, while the larger 350,000-hectare ER 378 straddles the Bothaville, Hoopstad and Wesselbron districts.

All stakeholders have been invited to attend public meetings later this month to find out more about the planned activities and the environmental approval process.