Tullow Ghana Ltd and Eni Ghana, together with their respective partners in the Jubilee and Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) fields, have officially restarted drilling operations, signaling renewed investor confidence in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
According to a press release issued on Thursday, May 29, 2025, by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the restart follows the approval of new drilling programs by the Ministry and the Petroleum Commission. The development comes after a prolonged period of low activity and is expected to sustain oil production and boost operational efficiency.
Tullow Ghana has contracted the Noble Venturer drillship, currently stationed in Ghanaian waters, to drill the JBE-P oil well in the Jubilee South-East area. The drilling and completion phase is expected to last 60 days, with initial production anticipated to average 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in Q3 2025, and increase to 4,500 bopd in 2026. Following this, the rig will undergo a Special Periodic Survey (SPS) before returning in Q4 2025 to continue Tullow’s two-year drilling campaign.
Eni Ghana, on the other hand, has commenced drilling the SNKE-1X ST2 well, a sidetrack of the existing SNKE-1X ST well. This effort targets the Cenomanian reservoir of the Sankofa field and is projected to positively impact oil production over several years, starting in Q4 2025. Eni’s campaign will be executed using the advanced 7th Generation Saipem Deep Value Driller (DVD), which arrived in Ghana on May 28 from Côte d’Ivoire.
The two campaigns are expected to unlock an additional cumulative recovery of 7.9 million and 6.2 million stock tank barrels (MMstb) of oil respectively before the end of the license period for the Jubilee and OCTP fields.
The Ministry highlighted that both companies have conducted successful stakeholder engagement initiatives involving nearly 1,000 fishermen and community leaders along Ghana’s coast. These efforts, supported by the Petroleum Commission and other agencies, are aimed at ensuring transparency and minimizing disruptions to local livelihoods.
The government emphasized that these renewed activities confirm Ghana’s attractiveness as a petroleum investment destination and showcase the viability of the country’s offshore geological potential, even amid a global energy transition.
“The restart of drilling activities by the two global oil companies demonstrates renewed confidence in the new policy and regulatory directions by the government,” the statement concluded.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Risa Wyettey Cofie
