Ghana: Aker Energy cheers Pecan well success

Aker Energy, as the operator of the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) block, is about to complete a successful drilling operation of the Pecan-4A appraisal well offshore Ghana.

Maersk Viking; Source Aker Energy

Aker Energy signed a contract with Maersk Drilling for Maersk Viking drillship to drill the Pecan-4A appraisal well in September 2018.

Also in September, Aker Energy awarded contracts related to its drilling campaign in Ghana to PMD Viking Ghana Limited, Halliburton Ghana, and Exceed Well Management.

The Maersk Viking drillship arrived in Ghanaian waters in October. Before that, the drillship was warm-stacked in the Gulf of Mexico.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the well was drilled at the Pecan field in the DWT/CTP block approximately 166 kilometers southwest of Takoradi in Ghana, to a vertical depth of 4,870 meters in 2,667 meters of water. The DWT/CTP block offshore Ghana contains seven discoveries, of which Pecan is the main discovery to date.

Aker Energy said on Thursday that the main purpose of Pecan-4A appraisal well was to confirm Aker Energy’s understanding of the geology in the area and to identify deep oil water contact in the Pecan reservoir. This was successfully proven, the company said.

Jan Arve Haugan, Chief Executive Officer at Aker Energy, said: “We are pleased to announce the well results, confirming our understanding of the area, as well as the resource base and upside potential in the DWT/CTP block. Based on these results, we will optimize the Plan of Development for the Pecan field. There is still a lot of work to be done, including to conclude the phasing of the development, the size of first phase and detailing of the concept. Our most important priority going forward is to deliver a robust field development plan to the Ghanaian authorities.”

Based on existing subsurface data from seismic, wells drilled and an analysis of the Pecan-4A well result, the existing discoveries are estimated to contain gross contingent resources (2C) of 450 – 550 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe). Aker Energy estimates that with the next two appraisal wells to be drilled, the total volumes to be included in a Plan of Development (POD) have the potential to increase to between 600 – 1,000 mmboe. In addition, there are identified multiple well targets to be drilled as part of a greater area development after submission of the POD.

Haugan added: “Aker Energy sees great potential in this promising area offshore Ghana. We see the foundation for a phased development producing through several production units. Since we became the operator less than a year ago, we have established an open, inclusive and transparent collaboration with Ghanaian authorities. This partnership will enable us to unlock the vast potential in the area to the benefit of both the Ghanaian society and our license partners.”

Aker Energy is the operator of the DWT/CTP block with a 50% participating interest. Aker Energy’s partners are Lukoil (38%), the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) (10%), and Fueltrade (2%).