By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja

Ghana’s first deepwater oil firm, Springfield Exploration and Production Limited on Monday disclosed that it has started well appraisal activities at Afina-1x offshore oil field.

The disclosure came three months after an international tribunal ruled in their favour in case against the Ghanaiangovernment. The firm had promised to appraise the Afina-1x well within three months.

It stated that the Deepsea Bollsta rig arrived at the Afina-1x Well on October 17, 2024, and has commenced operations.

In a statement by the company made available to journalists in Abuja, CEO, Kevin Okyere, expressed excitement about the milestone, citing the team’s tenacity and resilience.

“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.

Okyere also highlighted the challenges in securing an efficient rig, but expressed delight that Deepsea Bollsta is already on the job.

“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,” he noted.

Okyere said the company has invested over $60 million in the ongoing well-test and appraisal, adding:”The data before us is very positive, and we’re out to confirm it.”

The appraisal is expected to help stop the decline in Ghana’s oil production.

Okyere praised the team’s hard work and encouraged Ghanaians to support the company’s efforts. “I would like to basically announce to everyone here that the rig is finally in the country, and we have commenced the appraisal programme. We’re going ahead to build this appraisal well so that we can finally finish and stop the decline of Ghana’s production,” he said.

At a stakeholders’ engagement, Okyere recalled how far the company had come. “As the first Ghanaian company and the first African company to own and operate a deep offshore oil block, drill and find hydrocarbons, I think we need to give ourselves an applause that we’ve really done very well,” he said.

Community stakeholders, including fishermen, have lauded the company’s efforts. Nana Kweku Amosa, a fisherman from the Jomoro District, praised Okyere for his visionary leadership and courage in venturing into an area considered to be the preserve of foreigners. “The company, a wholly Ghanaian-owned firm, must be supported to succeed, just like Aliko Dangote was assisted by the state and its institutions to succeed in Nigeria,” Amosa said.

Springfield’s partners, including local and international blue-chip operators, are also part of the campaign. The company has engaged with stakeholders to inform them about the arrival of the Deepsea Bollsta Rig and advised fishermen to avoid fishing close to the rig to prevent accidents.

Kennedy Nunoo, Corporate Affairs Manager of the company, presented the work programme of the rig to the participants. “The rig will not stay beyond the stipulated time, and we appeal to the Chief Fishermen and fish mongers to share the information with their friends and relations when they return to their landing beaches,” he said.

Officials from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Petroleum Commission, the Fisheries Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Navy attended the event.