BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has announced that Tullow Ghana Ltd and Eni Ghana, along with their respective partners, are restarting drilling operations in the Jubilee Field and Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) fields.
This development follows the approval of the two drilling programs by the Ministry and the Petroleum Commission, signaling renewed investor confidence in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
Drilling Programs and Expected Outcomes
Tullow’s drilling program involves the Noble Venturer Drillship, which will undertake the drilling of the JBE-P well in the Jubilee South-East area of the Jubilee Field.
The well is expected to produce an initial 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in Q3 2025, ramping up to 4,500 bopd in 2026. Eni’s drilling program, on the other hand, involves the Saipem Deep Value Driller (DVD) 7th Generation Drillship, which will drill the SNKE-1X ST2 well in the Sankofa field.
This well is expected to positively impact the Cenomanian oil production over several years, commencing in Q4 2025.
Renewed Confidence in Ghana’s Energy Sector
The restart of drilling activities by Tullow and Eni demonstrates renewed confidence in Ghana’s energy sector and the government’s new policy and regulatory directions.
The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and the Petroleum Commission have ensured that the wells will be delivered with excellent environmental and safety records, cost discipline, and operational excellence.
Stakeholder Engagement
Ahead of the drilling campaign, Tullow and Eni, in collaboration with the Petroleum Commission and other relevant agencies, have carried out comprehensive stakeholder engagement programs along Ghana’s coastline.
These programs have involved about 1,000 fishermen and local leaders, promoting open communication and collaboration with communities.
Potential Impact on Ghana’s Economy
The new drilling programs have the potential to unlock further value and increase the cumulative recovery of oil by up to 7.9 million stock tank barrels (MMstb) and 6.2 MMstb, respectively, at the end of the license period of the two fields.
