Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd (TSX-V:RECO, OTCQX:RECAF, FRA:0XD) said preliminary testing at its Kavango West 1X discovery well flowed natural gas and potential liquids to surface from the Huttenberg formation, completing vertical production testing and clearing the way for an open-hole horizontal test.

The company, along with partners BW Energy and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia, said the uppermost Huttenberg zone flowed gas and potential liquid content to surface immediately upon perforation, ahead of any acid stimulation.

The upper Elandshoek zone had previously flowed hydrocarbons to surface.

Flow rates from the Huttenberg were not measured due to previously disclosed equipment limitations.

ReconAfrica said it has procured the necessary equipment, now being shipped to site, and changed its surface operations service provider to address this for the upcoming test. Production samples have been collected in IsoTubes and sent to US laboratories, with compositional analysis expected in the coming weeks.

With vertical testing complete, ReconAfrica plans to proceed with an open-hole horizontal production test in the uppermost Huttenberg zone, with an option for an additional horizontal test in the uppermost Elandshoek zone.

The company said the Huttenberg was chosen based on its flow results, 75 metres of pay identified from well log analysis, matrix porosity between natural fractures, and a shallower depth allowing a longer horizontal lateral. The Jarvie-1 rig is expected to drill up to 1,000 metres of horizontal section through the formation.

ReconAfrica CEO Brian Reinsborough said the vertical cased-hole phase of testing at KW1X is complete and the company has a high level of confidence moving into horizontal testing.

"Importantly, KW1X's well results do not just validate a single structure; it also opens running room across the block," the CEO said.

"We have mapped 22 structures using existing seismic data and anticipate the inventory could grow with additional seismic coverage on PEL 73. We also believe our acreage in Angola could add additional structures to our inventory. These results have made critical steps to derisk and open a new play fairway."

ReconAfrica said the vertical program was designed to determine which parts of the reservoir could flow hydrocarbons to surface, not to establish flow rates, as cased vertical wells are not the optimized design for the fractured reservoir. Two of six identified zones of interest in the well were confirmed to contain hydrocarbons capable of flowing to surface.