On the 13th December 1973, the drilling of Kudu 9A-1, the first petroleum exploration borehole in the off-shore of Namibia, was started by a consortium consisting of Regent Petroleum (SWA) Limited (45%), Soekor (10%) and Chevron Oil Company of SWA (45%), who acted as operators. The prospecting lease was granted by Swakor (Pry) Ltd, the Namibian national petroleum exploration agency (now known as Namcor Ed.). The well was located 170 km due west of the Orange River mouth, 130 km from the nearest landfall at a water depth of 167.2 m and was drilled using the Sedco 135K semi-submersible rig.