Our history

Oil and Gas exploration in Ghana

Historically, the search for oil and gas in Ghana predates the 20th Century. It is speculated that, exploration in Ghana (then Gold Coast) began in the late 1800s through to the mid 1900s.

However, according to the “Ghana Geological survey Bulletin No. 40” exploration for oil and gas in Ghana started in 1896 in onshore Tano basin (Western Region). This was due to the presence of onshore oil and gas seepages found by early explorers in that area. During that period early wells were drilled without geological understanding and the benefit of seismic data.

Thereafter, successive Governments of the Republic of Ghana, expressed interest at exploring, discovering and harnessing its hydrocarbon potential to augment the production and supply of energy not only for itself, but also for the sub region. To achieve that, they invested resources: both equipment and expertise with high expectations against projections by analysts who were torn arguing for or against the investment in the line of availability of much needed capital, qualified personnel and risk. However, the country’s efforts were rewarded when its discovered oil in commercial quantity in 2007. Commercial production did not commence until 2010, when Tullow Ghana, initiated operations in the Jubilee Fields, enabling a production capacity of 110,000 barrels per day (b/d).

In 2004, the country sold licenses for offshore oil exploration and production blocks to different international companies. In 2007, Tullow Ghana Limited and Kosmos Energy discovered oil in commercial quantities in the Western Region of Ghana. The area was named Jubilee Field. Development of the production site started right away and in December 2010 oil production was officially launched. since 2007 further discoveries have been made. The TEN Field is the second major discovery which is being developed.

Production of crude oil from the Jubilee Field begun with 85,000 barrels of oil per day off the coast of Ghana as was announced by Tullow Ghana limited, one of the Jubilee partners. During the second half of 2012, Tullow Ghana and its partners discovered three (3) other fields Tweneboa, Enyena and Ntomme popularly known as TEN and therefore submitted a development plan to the government for these fields.

Currently, production in the Jubilee Fields stands 105,000 barrels per day. The Jubilee Field is a world-class oil field, with estimated recoverable resources of about 1 billion barrels. The advent of the oil and gas activities significantly changed the structure of the Ghanaian economy. The industrial sector, of which oil and gas activities form a part, grew to 36.2% in 2011 from 5.6% in 2010.

More development wells are being drilled by other licensed companies and the Jubilee partners, and some wells are indicating significant gas reserves. The latest of such exploration drilling was completed in the first quarter of 2013 by Hess Corporation as it drilled seven exploratory wells. The wells labelled as Paradise-1, Hickory North-1, Beech-1, Almond-1, Pecan-1 Cob-1 and Pecan North-1 were drilled on the Deepwater Tano/ Cape Three Points block offshore Ghana. According to Hess Corporation, Paradise-1 contain bith oil and gas while Hickory North was found to contain large quantities of gas. Previous discoveries include;
• Mahogany-1/ Hyedua-1 • Odum-1 • Ebony-1 • Mahogany Deep • Sankofa • Dzata • Teak • Akasa

These discoveries indicate huge prospects for Ghana’s hydrocarbon production capacity. In light of these discoveries, many international companies have moved into the country to acquire blocks for exploration and production activities.

Currently, since production levels are expected to increase over time, more companies will be expected to either relocate or establish offices in Ghana. Experts, consultants and technical staff are expected to flow from the international market into Ghana, thereby creating opportunities for the upstream petroleum as well as for offshore and onshore support services