Eni Starts Up Gas from Ghana's OCTP
Eni announced July 4 it has started gas production during last weekend from the Sankofa field in the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) oil and gas venture in Ghana's deep offshore. It adds that the field should provide 180mn ft3/d (1.86bn m3/yr) for at least 15 years - enough to convert to gas half of Ghana’s power generation capacity - with flows to shore are expected shortly.
Production started from two of the four deep-water subsea wells connected to the floating production ship, FPSO John Agyekum Kufuor, said Eni. (The banner photo of the FPSO is courtesy of partner Vitol)
After the final commissioning of the offshore facilities, production will gradually flow via a dedicated 60km pipe to the onshore receiving facility at Sanzule, where gas will then be compressed and distributed to Ghana’s national grid. OCTP produced its first oil in May 2017, which was three months ahead of the project's original schedule. First gas was expected to follow around now, in mid-2018.
OCTP is the only deep offshore non-associated gas development in sub-Saharan Africa entirely destined to domestic consumption and will guarantee stable, reliable, affordable gas supplies to Ghana, said Eni. Its CEO Claudio Descalzi said: “OCTP gas will contribute to Ghana’s energy stability, which is a prerequisite for industrial and economic growth, while at the same time helping reduce harmful emissions."
State producer Ghana National Petroleum Corporation CEO Dr KK Sarpong added: “GNPC is delighted that the OCTP development has reached this milestone and will support Eni on the further steps to ensure gas delivery to the Ghanaian market reaches its expected volumes in the shortest period of time.” OCTP oil and gas partners are Eni as operator 44.44%, Vitol 35.56% and GNPC 20%.
Now that gas production has started, Eni says that gross OCTP overall oil and gas production can reach up to 85,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The impending delivery to shore of OCTP gas comes as another field Tullow-operated TEN is due to start producing gas too. Ghana's main source of gas for years has been Tullow's Jubilee oil and gas field.