News | General | May 21st 2017

Production commences on the OCTP Sankofa Oil and Gas Project in Ghana

Today Vitol announced that oil production has commenced on the Sankofa Oil and Gas Project, which is developing the Sankofa and Gye Nyame group of fields, approximately 60km offshore Ghana. The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (‘GNPC’), Vitol and Eni (operator) are partnering in this development which will access approximately 1.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas-in-place and around 500 million barrels of oil-in-place.

The medium density, low sulphur crude has been named ‘Sankofa’. Its gravity is 28.9º API and Sulphur content 0.30% m/m. It is being produced through the John Agyekum Kufour Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), a 333m long 58m wide vessel with a storage capacity of 1.7 million barrels designed to accept tankers up to 320000DWT, enabling first and second port loading. Production will ramp up to at least 45,000 barrels per day and the first cargo will be ready for loading in August.

The development is an important contribution for the provision of clean energy in Ghana, providing enough gas to continuously supply Ghana’s thermal power sector until at least 2036. First gas is expected in 2018. The gas will also be processed by the John Agyekum Kufour, before being sent to shore via a new 63km pipeline for compression and distribution by a receiving facility. Daily production will be over 180 million standard cubic feet per day.

This gas will underpin the development of Ghana’s thermal power sector and facilitate economic growth. In addition, Ghana will benefit significantly from the enhanced production via GNPC’s carried and participating interest in the project, Ghana’s royalty share of oil and gas production and taxes paid by Vitol and Eni.

The project benefits from the support of the World Bank Group, which described it as a ‘top priority’ for Ghana and has provided the largest guarantees in its history to the development.

Ian Taylor, Chairman and Group CEO, Vitol said: “This is great news for the project and for Ghana. It is thanks to the hard work and professionalism of everyone involved in the project that collectively we have been able to deliver first oil over 3 months ahead of schedule. We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with our partners as the project progresses.”

For further information on Vitol please contact:
Andrea Schlaepfer
+44 (0) 207 973 4230
acs@vitol.com

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