MAJOR DRILLING CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF: Singapore’s Rex International Launches $120M Benin Oilfield Revival
Singapore-based Rex International has officially commenced a massive 120-day drilling operation in Benin’s Sèmè oilfield, marking one of West Africa’s most significant oil revival projects this year. The company’s subsidiary Akrake Petroleum is spearheading the ambitious redevelopment of the historic field, which produced 22 million barrels between 1982 and 1998 before operations ceased due to low oil prices.
The drilling rig Borr Gerd has arrived in Benin waters, with operations set to begin in early July 2025. The comprehensive program will drill three strategic wellbores over 100 days, starting with a crucial appraisal well to gather fresh data on deeper reservoir units. Two horizontal production wells will follow, targeting the previously untapped H6 reservoir, which analysis suggests holds “significant” remaining reserves.
Production is expected to restart in October 2025 at an impressive rate of 16,000 barrels per day, utilizing a mobile offshore production unit currently undergoing refurbishment in Dubai. The revival represents a new chapter for the field originally discovered by Union Oil in 1969, with Rex holding a commanding 76% working interest through its production sharing agreement with Benin’s government.
Source: offshore-energy.biz
