Springfield Exploration and Production Limited has initiated an appraisal campaign on the Afina-1X field, following directives from an international arbitration tribunal. The tribunal’s July 2024 ruling required further exploration to determine the connectivity between the Afina and Sankofa fields before their unitisation, as evidence suggests they may share the same reservoir.
The arbitration had previously stalled Springfield’s progress after their hydrocarbon discovery at the Afina-1X field five years ago. However, Springfield, in collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has now deployed the semi-submersible rig, Deepsea Bollsta, to begin a month-long appraisal of the offshore oil block in Ghana’s Western Region.
Springfield’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kevin Okyere, emphasized the importance of the campaign during a media briefing, stating, “We are complying with the tribunal’s directives, and we are proceeding with this appraisal well to help arrest the decline in Ghana’s oil production and hopefully add significant output to the industry.”
Mr. Okyere expressed excitement about the commencement of the process, noting that, upon successful completion, the Afina field could potentially add 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Ghana’s oil production. “I am pleased to announce that the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit, Deepsea Bollsta, has arrived in Ghana and commenced re-entry and the Drill Stem Test (DST) of Afina-1X in line with the Appraisal Programme,” he said.
The CEO clarified that despite previous claims suggesting the appraisal results were inconsistent with the unitisation directive, no data has yet been gathered. “There is no such evidence. The rig arrived only a few days ago, and we have just started mobilizing and initiating our work. We are yet to collect the relevant data and process it as part of our appraisal report,” he affirmed.
In response to the false claims, Mr. Okyere revealed that Springfield’s legal team is seeking a retraction of the statement to prevent legal action.
The appraisal, expected to last six weeks due to the complexity of the operation, is a crucial step in boosting national oil production. “We are very optimistic that within the next six months, after completing this process, we will see positive progress contributing to Ghana’s oil production,” Mr. Okyere added.
Jerry Greenfields, Head of Assets for GNPC’s West Cape Three Points (WCTP) Block 2, commended Springfield’s rapid mobilisation of the rig, noting that such swift action is rare even among major oil companies. “Mobilizing a rig within three months is a significant achievement,” he said.
Springfield has committed approximately US$65 million to the current appraisal campaign, bringing their total investment in the field to over US$200 million, according to Mr. Okyere. Dr. Thomas Manu, Springfield’s Vice President for Exploration and Production, explained that the Drill Stem Test (DST) will measure the well’s flow rate, which is critical to fulfilling the court’s requirements. He assured that the company will adhere to strict safety protocols throughout the process.
This appraisal campaign is expected to play a key role in determining the commercial viability of the Afina field and its potential contribution to Ghana’s oil output.
Meanwhile The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has urged the government to reconsider Springfield Exploration and Production’s Afina-1X appraisal programme following concerns about discrepancies in data used to assess the oil discovery and potential regulatory oversights.
