On behalf of the license partners and as the Operator of the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) block offshore Ghana, Aker Energy has entered into contracts for the drilling of the Pecan-4A appraisal well due to spud in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The contracts were formally awarded to Maersk Drilling, PMD Viking Ghana Limited, Halliburton Ghana Limited and Exceed Well Management Ghana Limited at a signing ceremony in Accra, attended by representatives from the main office in Oslo on videolink.

Drilling in ultra-deepwater

“We are pleased to achieve this key milestone that will enable us to commence drilling of the important Pecan-4A appraisal well. The main objective of the well is to test the extension of the Pecan Field. 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,” said Mr. Jan Arve Haugan, CEO of Aker Energy.

The drilling contract with Maersk Drilling is for one firm well, Pecan-4A, and two optional wells. The deepwater drillship Maersk Viking will perform the drilling in a water depth of 2,674 meters. 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 in Q4 2018.

“Maersk Drilling is very pleased to support Aker Energy and the license partners, building upon our operational track record in Ghana and our strong relationship with the Aker Group. The contract for Maersk Viking marks our third rig operating in Ghana. We have a strong commitment to local job creation and competency development and our joint venture with Prime Meridian Docks, PMD Viking Ghana, will be providing local services in connection with the operation,” said Mr. Morten Kelstrup, CCIO of Maersk Drilling.

Service contracts

Aker Energy has also entered into other contracts relating to the drilling campaign. These contracts include an agreement with Halliburton Ghana Limited for provision of drilling support and well services to Aker Energy. In addition, a contract for well design and management is agreed with Exceed Well Management Ghana Limited.

The 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.

“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,” said Mr. Shannon Slocum, Senior Vice President of Eurasia, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa for Halliburton.

“We have a long history in Ghana and have invested in establishing a new local joint venture, Exceed Well Management Ghana. We look forward to supporting Aker Energy and their partners and believe there is significant potential to develop local capability to exploit new deepwater fields offshore Ghana,” said Mr. Ian Mills, Managing Director of Exceed.

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