Energy Ministry announces fresh drilling campaigns

The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has announced the resumption of new drilling operations by Tullow Ghana and Eni Ghana in the Jubilee and Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) fields, respectively.

The move follows the approval of the companies’ respective drilling programmes by the Petroleum Commission and marks a significant step towards revitalising Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector, signalling renewed investor confidence and operational momentum in the industry.

In a statement issued on May 29, 2025, the Ministry said Tullow Ghana has contracted the Noble Venturer drillship to undertake drilling of the JBE-P well in the Jubilee South-East area, with operations expected to last 60 days.

Initial production is projected at 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in the third quarter of 2025, increasing to 4,500 bopd by 2026. The rig will then be redeployed in the fourth quarter of 2025 after a Special Periodic Survey to continue the company’s two-year drilling programme.

Meanwhile, Eni Ghana has commenced drilling of the SNKE-1X ST2 well, a side-track of the existing SNKE-1X ST well in the Sankofa field, which aims to enhance production from the Cenomanian reservoir.

Eni has engaged the Saipem Deep Value Driller, a seventh-generation drillship, to conduct this operation over a period of four to six months. The rig, which arrived in Ghana from Côte d’Ivoire on 28 May, has already begun operations.

The Ministry indicated that these drilling campaigns are expected to significantly boost Ghana’s oil output. Building on the achievements of previous campaigns, the new programmes could unlock additional value and increase cumulative oil recovery to 7.9 million stock tank barrels (MMstb) in the Jubilee Field and 6.2 MMstb in the OCTP field. The Petroleum Commission is also ensuring that high standards of environmental and operational safety are upheld.

As part of stakeholder engagement efforts, Tullow and Eni have collaborated with relevant agencies to conduct outreach programmes along Ghana’s coastline. These engagements, involving over 1,000 fishermen and local leaders, aim to promote open communication and community collaboration ahead of the drilling campaigns.

The Ministry of Energy emphasised that the renewed activity by the two oil giants underlines confidence in the government’s regulatory policies and the country’s geological potential. It also sends a strong signal to the global market that Ghana remains an active player in offshore oil production, even as the world shifts towards a broader energy transition.

Read the full statement below