Benin's Seme Oilfield Revival Underway with Key Drilling Campaign
Norve jack-up rig (Credit: Borr Drilling)
Ashlin Ablavi | August 13, 2025Seme Field Revival: After nearly 30 years, Benin's offshore Sèmè oilfield is being redeveloped.
Drilling Commenced: The first well was spudded on August 4, 2025, by Akrake Petroleum Benin S.A.
100-Day Program: A three-well drilling campaign is underway using the Borr Gerd jack-up rig.
Production Target: Initial oil production of approximately 15,000 barrels per day (bopd) is expected by Q4 2025.
Strategic Impact: The project aims to reduce Benin's oil import dependency and boost its economic standing.
Partnership: Akrake Petroleum (76% working interest) operates the field with the Government of Benin (15%) and Octogone Trading (9%).
COTONOU, BENIN – August 13, 2025 – After nearly three decades of inactivity, Benin's offshore Sèmè oilfield is set for a significant revitalization. Akrake Petroleum Benin S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lime Petroleum (which is 80.14% owned by Singapore-listed Rex International Holding), announced on August 4, 2025, the spudding of the first well in the Sèmè Field, located in Block 1 offshore Benin. This marks a pivotal step in a comprehensive redevelopment program aimed at bringing the field back to production by the fourth quarter of 2025.
The drilling operation is being conducted using the Borr Gerd jack-up drilling rig and is part of an ambitious 100-day, three-well work program. The campaign includes two horizontal production wells targeting the previously developed H6 formation, as well as a deeper vertical appraisal well designed to gather critical data from the H7 and H8 reservoirs. This data collection is crucial for facilitating a potential Phase 2 development of the field.
Production from the Sèmè Field is anticipated to commence in Q4 2025 with initial rates projected at approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). This forecast suggests a strong re-entry for Benin into regional oil production. The redevelopment also involves the arrival of a refurbished Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU) and a Floating Storage & Offloading (FSO) unit, both of which are scheduled to be on-site by Q4 2025. Once installed, the MOPU will be connected to the newly drilled wells.
Dr. Steve Moore, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Rex and General Manager of Akrake Petroleum, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, "We are excited to bring oil production back to the Sèmè Field and to Benin after such a long time, and we would like to express our deep appreciation to the Benin authorities and our local partner Octogone E&P S.A. for their strong support and cooperation."
Akrake Petroleum holds a 76% working interest in the Sèmè Field in Block 1 and serves as the operator. The remaining interests are held by the Government of Benin (15%) and Octogone Trading (9%), an integrated energy and commodities company active in West Africa.
The Sèmè Field, first discovered in 1969, previously produced around 22 million barrels of oil between 1982 and 1998 before operations ceased. The current redevelopment leverages modern drilling and completion technologies, alongside the analysis of reprocessed 3D seismic data from 2007, to optimize further development and potentially unlock deeper reservoir sections. This initiative is a significant moment for Benin, which has largely relied on imported petroleum products for nearly three decades since Sèmè ceased production. The successful revival of the field is expected to reduce Benin's oil import dependency, diversify government revenues, and strengthen its economic standing within the West African region.
This project is part of a broader trend of renewed upstream activity across West Africa, with countries like Angola and Namibia also making significant strides in oil and gas discoveries and production