The appraisal of Springfield Exploration and Production Limited’s (SEP) Afina-1x well within the deep water block WCTP-2, which upon completion could lead to the unitisation of the Afina-Sankofa fields, is advancing steadily.
Springfield E&P contracted the Deepsea Bollsta rig, a semi-submersible being managed by Odfjell Drilling Limited, to appraise the well following a July 8, 2024 ruling by the International Court of Arbitration that mandated Springfield to conduct additional work to complete the unitisation process.
The Tribunal, adjudicating between the government and Eni Ghana Exploration and Production and Vitol Energy, declared that the government was well within its rights under the laws of Ghana to issue an unitisation directive.
However, some further works needed to be executed for unitisation to be completed.
The tribunal specified a maximum of six months for the unitisation to be completed, once the work is completed.
Mr Wilem Drogt, Well Test Supervisor, Deepsea Bollsta rig, speaking to journalists during a tour of offshore Afina field aboard the Deepsea Bollsta, on Friday, said he was excited about the progress of work.
He stated that the objective of the appraisal was to establish the presence and pressure levels of the hydrocarbons, including the size of the reservoir amongst other tests.
He was optimistic about completing the project on schedule.
“We are very happy about how the appraisal is progressing. We are very optimistic of getting the needed data in time,” he revealed.
The appraisal of the field involved the testing of the flow of oil in the reservoir to obtain the well productivity data.
The WCTP Block 2, reputed to contain substantial reserves, is operated by Springfield, an indigenous company in partnership with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and GNPC Explorco.
The field shares boundaries with Sankofa field being operated by the Italian oil company, Eni Ghana, which is currently producing next to it.
The success of the current campaign will result in Springfield being the first independent African producer in deep water as well.
The company was incorporated in March 2008 to pursue exploration and production opportunities in Ghana and the West African sub-region.
The process of acquiring a block began in 2012, but the Government of Ghana finally awarded it in March 2016. The Company is currently the Operator and Majority Interest Holder of West Cape Three Points Block 2 with the Ghana National Petroleum Company and its exploration wing, GNPC-explorco holding the remaining interest.
In October 2019, the Afina-1x well made two discoveries that included gas, critical and light oil at a water depth of 1,030 metres.
This discovery more than doubled Springfield’s proven oil reserves on the Block to 1.5 billion barrels and added almost 1TCF of gas to the existing discoveries.
BY DAVID ADADEVOH
