Ghana has announced plans to commence well drilling in the Voltaian Basin between the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2024.
The West African nation, through the national oil company, GNPC, is undertaking further studies on a 2D seismic data survey acquired on the unexplored Voltaian Basin in 2021.
A Chinese Joint Venture firm, BGPBAY, was awarded a contract in December 2021 and is currently undertaking studies to enable GNPC to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of the area.
Speaking at the Ghana Oil and Gas Roadshow in London, UK, last Thursday, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, Mr. Opoku Danquah-Ahweneeh said GNPC is continuously evaluating opportunities to leverage its technical competence and financial strength in unlocking the much-needed hydrocarbon potential of the sedimentary basins.
He, therefore, encouraged “…all to strongly consider the opportunities available at this Roadshow, and I assure you that in GNPC, you have a dependable technical and commercial partner working together to execute work programs leading to much-needed oil and gas discoveries.”
The Roadshow saw presentations on an overview of Ghana’s upstream industry as well as Ghana’s Fiscal and Regulatory Regime and Energy Transition Strategy.
There were technical presentations on Farm-in operations and available blocks during Q&A sessions.
In attendance were the Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh; Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Papa Owusu Ankomah as well as experts from the oil and gas industry.
The GNPC’s strategic objective within the energy transition climate, Mr Danquah noted, “is to accelerate responsible exploitation of Ghana’s oil and gas resources to meet growing energy demand as we continue to embrace and develop green energy projects.”
He revealed the growth strategy led to the establishment of GNPC Explore, a registered subsidiary, with participating Interest in six Exploration and Appraisal licences in offshore basins.
“Our strategic entry into these licences is underpinned by our knowledge-based conviction of hydrocarbon prospectivity and commercial assessment of financial exposure and risk.
“As a paying partner, Explorco forms part of the contractor party and contributes experience and lessons learnt from other exploratory licences to enhance exploration success and reduce project delivery timelines.
“In 2021, GNPC, through our subsidiary, acquired Commercial Interest in Jubilee and TEN fields to increase our participation and revenue from both fields,” he stated.
Meanwhile, GNPC is decommissioning Saltpond Oil Fields in the Central Region.
The decommissioning exercise, which started last year, is being undertaken by a wholly Ghanaian-owned company, Hans and Co. Oil and Gas Company, through a consortium of experts gathered from around the world.
They are to ensure all necessary procedural, technical and social controls and mitigation measures are rightly executed to reduce environmental impact to the barest minimum.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com