Boost for oil production -As Aker Energy begins Pecan field appraisal
Aker Energy Ghana will start the development of the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) block with field appraisals on the Pecan Field in the next quarter.
This follows contracts entered into by Aker Energy Ghana, a subsidiary of Norwegian-based oil exploration and production firm, Aker Energy AS, for the drilling of Pecan-4A appraisal wells.
The contracts were formally awarded to Maersk Drilling, PMD Viking Ghana, Halliburton Ghana and Exceed Well Management Ghana.
The Country Manager of Aker Ghana, Mr Jan Helge Skogen, signed the contracts on behalf of Aker and the licensed partners. The ceremony was witnessed by the company’s representatives in their main office in Oslo, Norway, via video-link.
The main objective of the appraisal of the well was to test the extension of the Pecan Field, Aker said in a statement.
Drilling in ultra-deep water
Aker Energy in a statement welcomed the process, which it described as “a key milestone that will enable the operator to commence drilling of the important Pecan-4A appraisal well.”
The Pecan Field is a pool of oil resource, which is thought to hold additional potential when an outstanding appraisal is conducted.
The statement said the partners were, therefore, carrying out the outstanding (further) appraisal to evaluate the resource, hence, the award of the contract to Maersk Drilling, Halliburton and Exceed, with their local Ghanaian partners.
The company gave an assurance that its aim was to become the offshore oil and gas operator of choice in the country and it was envisioning to go beyond local content to share knowledge and experience to strengthen the local oil and gas industry, the statement said.
Aker Energy Ghana, the lead operator of the field, will draw on the extensive track record of its parent company, Aker Group, within the oil and gas industry around the world.
The group has proven project execution, technical and subsurface competence and ability to support the country nascent industry.
Local industry
“With the commencement, globally renowned oil and gas suppliers have teamed up with indigenous Ghanaian partners in accordance with regulations and with a clear ambition to develop local industrial capacity,” the statement said.
The Senior Vice-President of Eurasia, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa for Halliburton, Mr Shannon Slocum, said, “We look forward to working on this project and the opportunity to collaborate with Aker Energy and Maersk to engineer solutions for the development of the Pecan Field.”
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aker Energy Ghana, Mr Jan Arve Haugan, said: “This will provide valuable and important input in optimising the plan of development for the field and in understanding the wider potential of the block.”
An official of Maersk Drilling, Mr Morten Kelstrup, said the contract for Maersk Viking marked its third rig to operate in the country.
He said as a company, “We have a strong commitment to local job creation and competency development and our joint venture with Prime Meridian Docks and PMD Viking Ghana will be providing local services in connection with the operation.”
Drillship
According to the statement, the drilling contract with Maersk Drilling was for one firm well, Pecan-4A, and two optional wells and that the deep-water drillship, Maersk Viking, would perform the drilling in a water depth of 2,674 metres.
The drillship, built in 2014 with state-of-the-art facilities and systems, is currently in the Gulf of Mexico and will imminently set sail from the US to Ghana for operations to commence next quarter.