Tullow and Eni Resume Offshore Drilling: Ghana’s Upstream Sector Signals Major Revival

Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector is witnessing a significant revival as Tullow Ghana Ltd. and Eni Ghana resume offshore drilling operations in the Jubilee Field and Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) block, respectively. The announcement, made in a press release dated May 29, 2025, by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, marks a pivotal boost for the country’s oil and gas industry.

In collaboration with their partners, both operators have secured ministerial approval for a suite of expanded drilling programmes designed to maximise production and enhance operational efficiency in these two flagship assets. The Ministry describes the controlled recommencement of drilling as indicative of renewed investor confidence following a prolonged lull in upstream activity.

Tullow Ghana, in partnership with Noble Venture Drillship, is set to begin drilling well JBE-P in the Jubilee South-East area. Operations are expected to span 60 days, with initial output estimated at 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in Q3 2025—ramping up to 4,500 bopd shortly thereafter The Ministry disclosed that ongoing drilling campaigns by Tullow and Eni have so far delivered 71 wells on schedule and within budget. Projected cumulative recoveries stand at 7.9 million barrels for Tullow and 6.2 million barrels for Eni, underscoring the strategic value of these developments for Ghana’s long-term energy security. ENI’s Saipem Deep Value Driller—recently active off the Ivorian coast—has also resumed operations in Ghanaian waters, further demonstrating the alignment between hydrocarbon exploration and the country’s green energy transformation agenda.

According to the Ministry, these developments reflect the government’s policy direction toward fostering sustainable industrial growth while reinforcing Ghana’s positioning in the global energy landscape

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