ENI and Tullow Resume Oil Exploration at Ghana’s Jubilee and Offshore Cape Three Points Blocks

Two major oil producers in Ghana, ENI Ghana and Tullow Ghana Limited have resumed drilling operations in the Jubilee and Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) Fields respectively.

This is a significant move toward revamping the upstream petroleum sector.

The two latest drilling programmes have been approved by the Ministry of Energy and the Petroleum Commission to sustain oil output and boost investor confidence following a period of subdued activity.

Tullow’s contracted Noble Venturer Drillship is now operating in Ghanaian waters to drill the JBE-P well in the Jubilee South-East area.

The well, part of the Jubilee Full Field Development Plan, is expected to deliver an initial output of 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in Q3 2025, ramping up to 4,500 bopd by 2026.

After completing the well, the rig will undergo a Special Periodic Survey before resuming drilling under Tullow’s two-year campaign in Q4 2025.

Meanwhile, ENI has commenced drilling operations targeting the Cenomanian reservoir of the Sankofa Field. The SNKE-1X ST2 side-track well is projected to enhance long-term oil recovery.

The campaign is being executed using Saipem’s state-of-the-art Deep Value Driller (DVD), a 7th Generation drillship that began operations in Ghana on May 28, 2025, after relocating from Côte d’Ivoire.

Both companies have a strong track record in Ghana. Tullow and its partners have drilled 50 wells in the Jubilee Field, while ENI has drilled 21 in the OCTP area; projects noted for being delivered on time and within budget.

The new campaigns could unlock an additional 14 million barrels of recoverable oil across the two fields before the end of their license periods.

To support the restart, both companies conducted extensive stakeholder engagements with coastal communities involving over 1,000 local fishers and opinion leaders.

These engagements will foster transparency and cooperation and address concerns related to offshore activity.

Government says the resumed drilling underscores investor confidence in Ghana’s policy direction and geological potential on the back of global energy transition.

The Ministry has promised to closely monitor the drilling to ensure environmental safety, operational efficiency and cost effectiveness.