Ghana don record im first hydrocarbon discovery inside carbonate reservoir, as President John Dramani Mahama announce am on Tuesday for one conference inside Western Region.
The discovery na from Nya Gyidie-1X exploration well for Deepwater Cape Three Points block, wey dey about 148 kilometres offshore Ghana. Planet One Oil & Gas, wey dey operate the block with GOIL Upstream Ltd and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, confirm say dem see hydrocarbons for the well.
Mahama talk say na the first successful test of a Cenomanian-Turonian carbonate play as primary exploration target for Ghana. Before now, commercial discoveries dey mostly for sandstone reservoirs. The block covers about 1,454 square kilometres, and dem drill the well for water depth of 2,289 metres, showing the technical demands of exploring Ghana deepwater resources.
But the type and commercial size of the find never clear. Planet One Chief Executive Andaleeb Sehgal say further evaluation dey go on to establish the scale and determine the best development approach. He add say the company get technical expertise for deepwater development and plan more exploration drilling for onshore and offshore within next 12 to 18 months. The well name, Nya Gyidie-1X, mean ‘have faith’ for Akan language.
The discovery come as Mahama government dey try revitalise Ghana upstream petroleum industry, attract investors and replace declining reserves. Ghana don sign agreement for proposed $28 billion expansion of Petroleum Hub, wey include plan for 300,000-barrel-per-day refinery. In June, the president announce $3.5 billion new upstream investment commitments. Energy Minister John Jinapor call the latest discovery significant milestone.
Planet One na company wey Indian tycoon Sanjeev Mansotra control, and e dey based for Dubai. The well also target deeper Lower Albian rocks as secondary objective. The block originally licensed in 2019 to ExxonMobil, GOIL Upstream and GNPC. After Exxon pull out, GOIL Upstream find new partner and sign farm-in and joint operating agreements with Planet One in December 2023 for COP28 climate talks inside Dubai. Planet One become operator. The block dey deep water next to Tano Basin, wey get Ghana producing Jubilee and TEN oil fields.
Planet One tell regulators last year say e plan drill first exploration well early 2026, and in March say e commit $165 million for project this year, with potential to double am over next two years. The company also start investing for second offshore block, shallow water north of Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa fields. Mahama talk say the drilling show say investors dey regain confidence for Ghana oil industry. Crude output don rise to more than 120,000 barrels a day, and partners for Jubilee field commit $2 billion for new investment. Government don send amendments to petroleum exploration law to cabinet to improve incentives for investors as e dey try offset declining production from older fields.
Sanjeev Mansotra na founder and chairman of Planet One Group, wey spread across Africa for sectors like oil and gas, education and vocational training. Much of the group work dey with governments.
