ANGKOR RESOURCES CORP. (TSXV: ANK) has announced Mussel Basin as a fourth target for exploratory drilling on its Block VIII oil and gas license in Cambodia, based on preliminary processed seismic data. The company's energy subsidiary, EnerCam Resources, identified the basin as a rift fault bounded structure, likely of Cenozoic age, which differs significantly from the previously identified South, Central, and North Bokor basins.
Keith Edwards, Geophysicist for EnerCam, noted that the Mussel Basin offers two distinct advantages: shallower drilling targets and potentially higher reservoir porosity due to less compaction. The team is currently reviewing the data for stratigraphic traps, such as reservoirs that pinch out against sealing rock or porous channel sand encased in impermeable shale. A full seismic interpretation is expected in December, with drill targets to be prioritized thereafter.
This development follows the company's completion of a 350-line kilometre 2D seismic program over Block VIII in September. Initial data processing had already revealed three significant closed anticline structures in the west half of the license area. The addition of Mussel Basin expands the exploration potential within Block VIII, which spans approximately 4,095 square kilometres in southwestern Cambodia.
Angkor Resources is a leading resource optimizer in Cambodia, with its energy subsidiary EnerCam Resources actively advancing onshore oil and gas exploration to fulfill its mission of proving Cambodia as an oil and gas producing nation. The company also has mineral exploration licenses in Cambodia through its Angkor Gold Corp. subsidiary, targeting copper and gold prospects, and is involved in oil and gas production in Saskatchewan, Canada, with a focus on carbon capture and emissions reduction.
The confirmation of Mussel Basin as a drill target underscores the progress of Angkor's exploration activities in Cambodia. The company's ability to identify multiple targets within Block VIII suggests a robust geological framework that could support future development. The shallower depths and improved porosity of the Mussel Basin could reduce drilling costs and enhance the economic viability of any discovered resources. As EnerCam continues to process and interpret seismic data, the prioritization of drill targets will be a critical step toward testing the hydrocarbon potential of the license area.
