Springfield Edges Closer to Producing Ghana’s First Locally-Owned Offshore Oil

Springfield Exploration and Production Ltd. is making waves as it gets closer to completing an important appraisal drilling project at the Afina well in Ghana’s West Cape Three Points Block 2.

This marks a major milestone for both the company and the country, as Springfield works to become the first Ghanaian-owned firm to drill in deep waters.

The drilling project, costing about $60 million, is using the Deepsea Bollsta rig to determine if the well is ready for production and if it can be commercially successful. 

The Afina well, discovered in 2019, holds great promise, with estimates suggesting it could produce more than 600 million barrels of oil per day.

If all goes well, this project could greatly increase Ghana’s oil production and cement Springfield’s role as a key player in the nation’s oil industry.

Production from Afina is expected to reach around 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which would strengthen Ghana’s position in the global energy market.

Springfield’s journey in Ghana’s oil sector started in 2008, focusing first on fuel distribution before moving into oilfield services and upstream activities.

In 2016, the company took over operations of WCTP Block 2 and has made impressive progress since then.

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The Afina-1 well was drilled to a depth of over 4,000 meters and struck light oil in large, productive zones.

The discovery more than doubled Springfield’s estimated oil resources to 1.5 billion barrels, along with about 0.7 trillion cubic feet of gas.

A key part of the project is the partnership between Springfield and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

GNPC has praised this collaboration, highlighting its alignment with Ghana’s local content laws, which aim to increase local involvement in the oil sector.

These laws require a certain percentage of equity ownership to be held by Ghanaian companies, ensuring that locals benefit from the country’s resources.

The appraisal drilling has faced some challenges, including delays due to equipment issues. However, Springfield’s team remains optimistic.

Willem Drogt, the Well Test Supervisor on the Deepsea Bollsta rig, has assured stakeholders that progress is being made and that data on the reservoir’s size and economic potential will soon be available.

This project isn’t just about increasing oil production; it’s a groundbreaking moment for local ownership in Ghana’s oil industry.

For years, the sector has been dominated by foreign companies, but Springfield’s success is a sign that things are changing.

Greater involvement from local companies could lead to more jobs and economic growth, benefiting Ghanaians across multiple sectors.

If Springfield successfully brings Afina into production, it could inspire other Ghanaian companies to pursue similar projects, creating a ripple effect of entrepreneurship in the energy sector.

The economic benefits could be huge—higher oil production means more government revenue, which could be reinvested into infrastructure and social programs.

 As the company nears the completion of this drilling project, the results could have a lasting impact, not just for Springfield but for Ghana’s economy as a whole.

This initiative, driven by local ownership, represents national pride and offers a pathway to sustainable growth in the country’s oil industry.