Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizes African Oil and Gas Operations
Africa’s oil and gas industry is embracing artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to optimize operations and maximize output from existing fields. The integration of AI is driving the industry toward a projected market value of $6.4 billion by 2030.
Major global oilfield technology companies including Baker Hughes, Halliburton, and SLB have established bases across Africa to support this technological transformation. SLB has introduced the Africa Performance Centre in Luanda this year and is backing several billion-dollar oil projects in Angola.
Enhanced oil recovery is experiencing significant disruption as AI unlocks access to vast datasets previously unimaginable with traditional systems. This capability enables operators to make more informed decisions regarding reservoir management and pattern identification using deep geological and production data.
The technology has moved beyond experimental stages to policy-level adoption across several African countries. Angola implemented its Incremental Production Initiative in 2024, offering tax incentives to encourage reinvestment in mature oilfields. ExxonMobil made the first discovery under this initiative with the Likembe-01 well, demonstrating the role policy plays in unlocking incremental resources.
The African Union Commission declared AI as a strategic priority for the continent in May 2025, recognizing the transformative role machine learning plays in the continent’s development trajectory.
Source: oilreviewafrica.com
