Hope returns to Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector as two major upstream oil producers, ENI Ghana and Tullow Ghana Limited, have resumed drilling operations in the Jubilee and Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) Fields respectively.
The two International Oil Companies (OICs) secured drilling approvals from the Ministry of Energy and the Petroleum Commission, with the goal sustaining oil production volumes and boosting investor confidence in the industry following a lull in exploration activity.
Tullow’s latest drilling activity is being undertaken by the Noble Venturer Drillship, which is currently operating in Ghanaian waters. The rig is drilling the JBE-P well located in the Jubilee South-East area, as part of the Jubilee Full Field Development Plan.
The JBE-P well is projected to deliver an initial output of 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in the third quarter of 2025, with production expected to ramp up to 4,500 bopd by 2026. Upon completion of the well, the rig willundergo a Special Periodic Survey before resuming drilling activities under Tullow’s two-year development campaign scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.
On its part, ENI Ghana has commenced drilling of the SNKE-1X ST2 side-track well targeting the Cenomanian reservoir of the Sankofa Field. The well is anticipated to significantly enhance long-term oil recovery from the OCTP Block.
Drilling operations are being executed using Saipem’s Deep Value Driller (DVD), a 7th Generation drillship which arrived in Ghanaian waters on May 28, 2025, following the completion of a previous campaign in Côte d’Ivoire.
Tullow and ENI boast a strong operational track record in Ghana, with Tullow and its partners having drilled 50 wells in the Jubilee Field to date, while ENI has drilled 21 wells in the OCTP area. Both companies are recognized for delivering projects within budget and on schedule.
The two new drilling programmes could potentially unlock an estimated 14 million barrels of recoverable oil across the Jubilee and OCTP Fields before the end of their respective license periods.
To facilitate the resumption of drilling activities, both firms engaged in extensive stakeholder consultations with over 1,000 local fishers and opinion leaders from coastal communities. The engagements are expected to promote transparency, cooperation, and address concerns related to offshore exploration.
According to the Ministry of Energy, the resumption of drilling activities by ENI and Tullow signals growing investor confidence in Ghana’s upstream policy framework and geological potential, especially amid a global push for cleaner energy sources.
The Ministry further indicated that it will closely supervise ongoing drilling operations to ensure environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
Source: NR