CAPE TOWN, July 9 Reuters Shell is seeking government permission authorities to drill up to five offshore wells off the west coast of South Africa, a draft scoping report from environmental consultancy SLR showed on Tuesday.

Shell Offshore Upstream South Africa B.V. and its joint venture partners need environmental authorisation from the government before they can operate in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep Block NCUD in the Orange Basin.

Water depths in the region range between 2,500 metres and 3,200 metres.

Operator Shell wants to drill exploration and appraisal wells as oil companies shift their focus south of Namibia, where a string of discoveries in its prolific Orange Basin holds the potential of more finds.

The Orange Basin extends southwards into South Africa waters and has also attracted the interest of rival TotalEnergies.

Reporting by Wendell Roelf; editing by Andrew Heavens and Jason Neely

Source Reuters