- set to boost nation’s oil production
- with Sankofa unitisation firmly in sight
A News Desk Report
The nation’s oil production is expected to see a significant boost in 2025 following the successful completion of Springfield’s better-than-expected month-long appraisal of the Afina-1x field, located offshore in the Western Region.
The recent appraisal, conducted with the assistance of the Deepsea Bollsta semi-submersible rig, sourced from Norwegian company Northern Ocean Limited included a series of tests that have provided vital data for understanding the field’s potential, with oversight from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and GNPC Explorco.
Located 70 kilometres offshore in the Western Region at a depth of 1,030 meters, the Afina-1x well was first drilled in 2019 and encountered light oil in the Cenomanian sandstones and gas/condensate in the Turonian sands.
The appraisal well test confirmed a maximum flow rate of 4,500 barrels of oil per day from the Cenomanian sandstone, exceeding expectations. This was followed by a mini-drill stem test (DST) of the Turonian sandstone, which revealed the presence of gas and condensate, with an estimated potential flow rate of 12,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (bpd).
Happy with results
Springfield’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Okyere, in a communique, expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating, “We are extremely happy with the results of the appraisal programme which has further confirmed our understanding of our geological, geophysical, and reservoir models and demonstrated our operational capacity.”
He stated that the positive results strengthen Springfield’s confidence in the commercial development of the field, particularly in the Cenomanian and Turonian reservoirs.
“Afina-1x is a vertical well, we are confident that a horizontal well or other well completion options that maximise reservoir exposure in the fields would deliver much higher production rates. This provides an incredible platform for reaffirming commercial development options for the Cenomanian and Turonian reservoirs,” he added.
The pressure data obtained during the tests were consistent with prior measurements from 2019, confirming the stability and viability of the reservoir.
The rig, which was deployed in October, has since left the country’s shores, Mr. Okyere confirmed.
The successful completion of this appraisal comes at a crucial time for Ghana, where oil production has been on the decline in recent years. From 71.4 million barrels in 2019, production fell to 48.25 million barrels in 2023, with a yearly decline of around 10 percent. Springfield’s efforts to develop the Afina field are expected to help reverse this trend and significantly boost the country’s oil output.
The development follows the directives of a body of arbitration which sought to certify the quality of the crude oil .
Mr. Okyere was optimistic that with the unitisation of Springfield’s asset – which straddled the Sankofa field in Offshore West Cape Three Points Block Area (OCTP) and operated by the Italian major, Eni – expected to be formalised in the coming months, per the terms of the arbitration, it will set the tone for more involvement of indigenous companies in natural resource exploration on the continent.
“With the successful completion of this appraisal well-test activity, Springfield continues to make history as the first Independent Ghanaian and African Energy Company to operate a deep-water asset and find hydrocarbons,” he added.
He also stressed the importance of ramping up the involvement of local talent to support the expected increase in oil production.
He stated, “As we move forward with the commercial development of the Afina field, we are focused on expanding opportunities for local professionals to take on leadership roles and contribute to the sector’s growth. This is a critical step in building a sustainable energy future for Ghana.”
