Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector is receiving a significant shot in the arm as two major players—Tullow Ghana Limited and Eni Ghana—reignite drilling activities in the Jubilee and Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) oil fields.
The announcement, made in an official statement from the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, marks a turning point in efforts to revitalize the country’s oil and gas industry after a prolonged period of low activity.
According to the Ministry, the approval of the drilling programmes by the Petroleum Commission and the Ministry signals not just operational momentum, but a broader reaffirmation of investor confidence in Ghana’s energy sector.
“This signals renewed investor confidence in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector as Government implements measures to revitalize the industry following a long period of low activity.”
Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
Tullow’s operations are being carried out using the Noble Venturer Drillship, currently anchored in Ghanaian waters. The ship will drill the JBE-P well, a Full Field Development oil producer in the Jubilee South-East area.
Drilling and completion are expected to take approximately 60 days. Production is forecast to start at an average of 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in Q3 2025 and ramp up to 4,500 bopd by 2026.
Eni Ghana is also restarting its operations with the drilling of the SNKE-1X ST2 well, a sidetrack of a previously drilled well, focusing on the Cenomanian reservoir of the Sankofa field. The well is projected to sustain and potentially enhance oil production over several years beginning in Q4 2025.
For this task, Eni has deployed the Deep Value Driller (DVD), a state-of-the-art 7th generation drillship. The rig arrived in Ghana from Côte d’Ivoire on May 28, 2025, and began operations almost immediately—an efficiency that underscores the government’s and contractors’ efforts to optimize costs and timelines.
The cumulative recovery of oil from these operations is expected to increase by 7.9 million stock tank barrels (MMstb) from Tullow’s campaign and 6.2 MMstb from Eni’s operations by the end of their respective license periods.
These recoveries represent a significant enhancement of Ghana’s proven reserves and have positive implications for government revenue, job creation, and foreign investment.
“This new campaign by Eni together with the recently commenced drilling activity by Jubilee partners will sustain oil production and enhance operational efficiencies in the two fields.”
Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
Confidence Amid Energy Transition
The timing of the restart is significant. As global conversations shift increasingly toward energy transition and climate goals, Ghana’s reaffirmation of its offshore oil production potential sends a clear message to the international investment community: Ghana remains a viable and attractive player in the global energy market.
The Ministry and the Petroleum Commission noted that they are committed to ensuring these operations maintain high standards of environmental safety, cost discipline, and operational excellence. Previous campaigns by both firms, which drilled 50 wells (Tullow) and 21 wells (Eni), were praised for being completed on schedule and largely within budget.
“Ahead of the drilling restart, both companies, in collaboration with the Petroleum Commission, carried out extensive stakeholder engagement sessions across Ghana’s coastal communities.
“The initiative involved more than 1,000 fishermen and local leaders and aimed to ensure transparency, prevent disruptions, and promote cooperation between oil companies and affected communities.”
Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
This renewed drilling campaign represents a balancing act. While Ghana is pushing forward with renewable energy initiatives through its Energy Transition Framework, it is also maximizing the value of its hydrocarbon resources in the short to medium term to fund broader economic development goals.
The relaunch of drilling operations in Ghana’s premier oil fields is a promising development for a country that has faced recent setbacks in oil output and broader economic challenges.
The dual campaigns by Tullow and Eni not only stabilize output levels but also demonstrate the resilience and potential of Ghana’s oil sector in a volatile global energy environment.
If well-managed, this revitalized phase could be a model of how African energy producers navigate the complexities of economic needs, energy transition, and global investor expectations.
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