Aker Energy Ghana AS, a subsidiary of Aker Energy AS is preparing for an appraisal drilling campaign beginning October this year.

The drilling campaign is to help the oil exploration firm understand the characteristics of the oil reserves as it works on submission of a development plan for the Deep Water Tano Cape Three Points (DWTCP) block.

Aker Energy Ghana has been working with authorities in Ghana and its licensed partners after it was established in February.

It acquired a 50 per cent stake of Hess Ghana in June to formally become the operator of the DWTCP block.

Speaking to journalists at the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) Conference in Stavanger Norway, CEO of Aker Energy, Jan Arve Haugan said the work to mature both the Plan of Development and the appraisal campaign was progressing well.
 
Ghanaian Participation

Mr Haugen indicated that Aker Energy would work towards a long presence in Ghana that would benefit both parties – from society and communities to owners, partners and suppliers.

He explained that Aker Energy believes strongly in close collaboration between every company and stakeholder in the value chain. It envisions going beyond local content, knowledge sharing to strengthen Ghana’s oil and gas industry.

“Aker will comply with local content requirements as is, but we also believe that we need to think differently in order to really build the industry over time. This would include actively promoting sharing of knowledge and experience and developing local industry capacity”, Mr Haugen said.

Petroleum Commission trade delegation

Aker this week welcomed a strong delegation from the Petroleum Commission, including representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and indigenous companies who were in Stavanger, Norway for the ONS 2018.

The delegation had the opportunity to learn about how Aker Energy conducts business in Norway and they, on the other hand, received a better understanding of what it takes to do business in Ghana.

“As a Norwegian-based company, we are naturally pleased so many indigenous companies from Ghana come all the way up north. It shows a true commitment not only to look at business opportunities but also to learn from the experience and track record within oil and gas that we have built in Norway over the last decades”, Mr Haugen remarked.

Aker Energy hopes to build on the business model of Aker BP ASA, its sister company that has developed into one of the leading independent E&P companies in Europe over the last years.

It is now operational with offices in Oslo, Norway and Accra, Ghana.