Nigeria and Angola are now the biggest crude oil drilling markets in Africa, according to an Offshore Rigs Tracker, the Hawilti and the Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc. The Offshore Rigs Tracker offers the African petroleum industry the opportunity to track rigs’ movements and drilling campaigns offshore in sub-Saharan Africa, covering only offshore drilling activity (shallow and deep-water).
The tracker serves as an indicator of upstream dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa, both for exploration and production. The organisation in its latest data for June revealed that Nigeria mobilised many offshore oil rigs, adding that had been extended, including the Valaris DS- 10 for SNEPCo (Shell), and Shelf Drillings Baltic and Mentor rigs, for TotalEnergies and First E&P, respectively. According to the data, Shelf Drilling also secured new contracts for the Adriatic I and the Scepter units which accelerated Nigeria’s offshore drilling activities.
The report said: “Nigeria has caught up with Angola to also take the position of biggest drilling market this year, with a total of eight drilling campaigns confirmed offshore in both countries. “However, activity is likely to remain higher in Angola as most drilling campaigns there are confirmed until the second half of 2024 already to support exploratory, infill, and development drilling.