On October 15, 2025, Azule Energy, a joint venture between British Petroleum (BP) and Italian Eni Group, announced the successful drilling of its first well in a non associated natural gas development project off the coast of Angola, marking a breakthrough for this West African country in the field of natural gas resource development.

The QUI-Q-GP01 well drilled this time was operated by Valaris' self elevating drilling platform "Valaris V-144", officially launching the NGC (Non Associated Gas Cluster) project. This project is of milestone significance, pioneering Angola's specialized development of offshore non associated natural gas and completely changing the historical pattern of natural gas being only used as a byproduct of oil extraction. The natural gas produced by the project will be specifically supplied to Angola's liquefied natural gas plant, which is expected to significantly enhance the country's natural gas export capacity.

The NGC project reached its final investment decision in July 2022, planning to systematically develop the Quiluma and Maboqueiro shallow water gas fields by constructing two offshore platforms, an onshore natural gas processing plant, and a gas pipeline connecting Angola's liquefied natural gas plant. According to Azule Energy, the project is expected to be officially put into operation in early 2026, with an annual natural gas production of 4 billion cubic meters and an expected daily output of over 300 million cubic feet during the stable production period.

Azule Energy stated in an official statement: "This achievement marks a significant milestone in the development of the NGC project and demonstrates our firm commitment to promoting the future development of energy in Angola. The initiation of NGC drilling and completion operations is a strategic step towards providing safe, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions. "

The project is jointly operated by Azule Energy and Azule LTD, with partners including Chevron's Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, Angola National Oil Company Exploration and Production Company, and Total Energy Angola Natural Gas Development Company. This international cooperation model not only reflects the trend of Angola's energy sector opening up to the outside world, but also demonstrates the confidence of international energy companies in the development prospects of Angola's oil and gas resources. The promotion of the NGC project will effectively promote the diversified development of Angola's energy structure, while injecting new supply sources into the global liquefied natural gas market, which is of great significance for ensuring regional energy security. Editor/Yang Beihua