Sankofa project onstream in Ghana

The Sankofa oil and gas project, which is developing the Sankofa and Gye Nyame group of fields located approximately 60 km offshore Ghana, has produced first oil three months ahead of schedule. Being developed by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Eni (operator) and Vitol, the project will access some 1.5tn cf of gas and around 500mn barrels of oil in-place. (See also Petroleum Review, April 2017; https://knowledge.energyinst.org/Energy-Matrix/product?product=108069)

The medium density, low sulphur crude has been named ‘Sankofa’. Its gravity is 28.9º API, with a sulphur content of 0.30% m/m. It is being produced through the John Agyekum Kufour FPSO, which has a storage capacity of 1.7mn barrels and is designed to accept tankers up to 320000 dwt, enabling first and second port loading. Production will ramp up to at least 45,000 b/d 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 63-km pipeline for compression and distribution by a receiving facility. Daily production will be over 180mn cf/d.

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

Photo: The John Agyekum Kufour FPSO was constructed in Singapore

Source: Vitol