Feb. 2013 - Harvest Natural Resources announced an oil discovery from the Dussafu Tortue Marin wildcat and sidetrack wells off the coast of Gabon. Both wells were drilled by the Scarabeo 3 (mid-water semisub) within the Dussafu PSC. The DTM-1 exploration well reached a TD of 11,260 feet and discovered roughly 42 feet of pay in the Gamba formation and 123 feet of pay in the Dentale formation. Appraisal well DTM-1ST1 was drilled to test the lateral extent of the structure and reached a depth of 11,385 feet. The well intersected 65 feet of pay in the primary Dentale reservoir with better characteristics than those encountered in the DTM-1 well.

Aug. 2012 - Panoro Energy announced that operator Harvest Natural Resources has secured the use of a semisub to drill the Tortue prospect in the Dussafu Marin Permit offshore Gabon. The drilling unit, the Scarabeo 3 (mid-water semisub), is expected to commence drilling operations in 4Q 2012. The Tortue Marin well will be located about 31 miles (50 kilometers) offshore Gabon and 9 miles (15 kilometers) southeast of the 2011 Ruche discovery in 380 feet (116 meters) water depth. The well targets pre-salt Gamba and mid-Dentale reservoirs and a secondary post-salt Madiela reservoir. When combining these reservoirs the Tortue prospect has, according to the operator, consolidated mean prospective resources of 28 MMbbls with 56 percent geological chance of success.

May. 2012 - A technical evaluation of the 2011 Ruche discovery has been completed, reported Panoro Energy. Studies indicate that the discovery has recoverable resources of around 11 MMbbl and is commercially marginal. Further resources will need to be found in order to proceed with a commercial development of the field. The Tortue prospect, about 9 miles (15 kilometers) southeast of Ruche, has been selected as the next exploration prospect to drill. The well will target pre-salt Gamba and mid-Dentale reservoirs and a secondary post-salt Madiela reservoir. When combining these reservoirs, the Tortue prospect has consolidated mean prospective resources of 28 MMbbls with 56 percent geological chance of success. When combining a discovery on Tortue with the existing discovery on Ruche, the minimum commercial threshold for Tortue is estimated to be around 10MMbbl resulting in a commercial chance of success of 46 percent. Rig options are currently being reviewed to drill the Tortue prospect.

Jan. 2012 - Havest Natural Resources has made a second discovery on its Dussafu PSC offshore Gabon. Wildcat Dussafu Tortue Marin-1 encountered approximately 42 feet of pay in a 72 foot oil column within the Gamba Formation and 123 feet of pay in stacked reservoirs within the Dentale Formation. Forward plans include a sidetrack which will appraise the Dentale sands in a structurally superior position and the lateral extent of the Gamba reservoir.