Springfield E&P Confirms Successful Appraisal of Afina Well.

By Nume Ekeghe

Springfield Exploration and Production Limited (Springfield) has reached a critical milestone in its mission to solidify Ghana’s position as a formidable player in the global energy sector. Under the dynamic leadership of Kevin Okyere, Springfield has successfully completed the appraisal of the Afina-1X well, marking a significant step in the company’s journey to boost Ghana’s oil production and redefine the energy landscape in the region.

The appraisal program, which commenced on October 17, 2024, followed a landmark tribunal ruling that directed the Ghanaian government to permit Springfield to complete the Afina-Sankofa unitisation. This ruling not only resolved a long-standing dispute with Eni Ghana Exploration and Vitol Energy but also underscored the government’s support for Springfield, the first independent Ghanaian company to operate a deep offshore oil block and discover hydrocarbons. The Deepsea Bollsta offshore rig, contracted from Northern Ocean in Norway, arrived at the Afina-1X well in the West Cape Three Points Block 2, marking the start of Springfield’s $65 million appraisal program.

Kevin Okyere, the visionary CEO of Springfield, expressed immense pride in this achievement. “We have a clear understanding of what being an upstream operator entails, and so we have hired the best possible team with over 60 years of collective experience working for all the super-majors and majors of the world,” he said. “We work with all the best blue-chip companies to execute all technical works, studies, and drilling programs. Being a smaller operator but working with the same expertise and diligence as the big operators, we can make decisions swiftly to benefit all our stakeholders, including the government and people of Ghana.”

The appraisal program represents a $200 million investment to date, highlighting Springfield’s commitment to pushing boundaries despite challenges. Speaking on the company’s resilience, Okyere noted, “Our research has shown that during this busy time in the drilling industry, rigs would not be available for another year, and yet Springfield managed to find one, and drilling commenced. This has all happened within a space of three months. It is worthy of note that consistent with its track record and show of resilience, despite what challenges Springfield has faced, it always bounces back stronger and finds solutions for every situation it finds itself in.”

The appraisal work, which was completed on November 22, 2024, involved re-entering the Afina-1X well, first drilled in 2019. The well, situated at a water depth of 1,030 meters and drilled to a total depth of 4,085 meters, had encountered light oil with a gross thickness of 65 meters and a 50-meter light net oil pay in high-quality Cenomanian sandstones. The secondary target, contained in Turonian-age sands, also revealed 10 meters of hydrocarbon-bearing sands consisting of gas and condensate.

The appraisal’s results exceeded expectations. The Drill Stem Test (DST) carried out on the Cenomanian sandstone flowed at a maximum rate of 4,500 barrels of oil per day, confirming the reservoir’s excellent productivity. Additionally, pressure transient analysis revealed reservoir pressure depletion compared to 2019, indicating ongoing production activity. A mini-DST conducted on the Turonian sandstone confirmed the presence of gas/condensate and suggested a potential flow rate of up to 12,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Pressure analysis from this reservoir matched the 2019 readings, further validating the initial findings.

Reflecting on these results, Okyere shared, “We are extremely happy with the results of the appraisal program, which has further confirmed our understanding of our geological, geophysical, and reservoir models and demonstrated our operational capacity. Afina-1X is a vertical well; we are confident that a horizontal well or other well completion options that maximise reservoir exposure in the fields would deliver much higher production rates. This provides an incredible platform for reaffirming commercial development options for the Cenomanian and Turonian reservoirs.”

The appraisal’s successful completion cements Springfield’s position as a trailblazer in Ghana’s oil and gas sector. Springfield holds an 84% interest in West Cape Three Points Block 2, with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and GNPC Explorco as its partners. The project has not only reinforced Springfield’s operational expertise but also highlighted its unwavering dedication to the nation’s energy independence.