TotalEnergies deploys deepwater rig to Akpo for fresh drilling in Nigeria
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Premium Times
Reported by Ekemini Simon
Fri, 6 Nov 2026, 08:15
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French energy giant TotalEnergies has deployed an ultra-deepwater drillship to Nigeria’s Akpo oil and gas field, preparing to commence a new drilling campaign that could expand activity in one of the country’s major offshore petroleum assets. The development signals continued investment in Nigeria’s deepwater petroleum sector, where new drilling and field developments could strengthen production, generate additional government revenue and create opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
Context & Background
✦What the drilling means for Nigeria The Akpo field is located in Petroleum Mining Lease 2 (PML 2), formerly Oil Mining Lease 130 (OML 130), approximately 150 kilometres offshore Nigeria.
Key Figures & Named Entities
Thursday:The company announced on Thursday that the drillship, Noble Black Rhino, had arrived at the Akpo field ahead of the campaign, with drilling of a well designated AFE-1X scheduled to begin on 13 November.2 November:According to a statement published on its Facebook page, the vessel crossed into Nigerian waters on 2 November after completing a 738-nautical-mile journey from Côte d’Ivoire.3 November:It arrived at the field at 6 a.m. on 3 November.
Outlook & Next Steps
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Key Takeaways
Verified Extract
✦French energy giant TotalEnergies has deployed an ultra-deepwater drillship to Nigeria’s Akpo oil and gas field, preparing to commence a new drilling campaign that could expand activity in one of the country’s major offshore petroleum assets.
✦The development signals continued investment in Nigeria’s deepwater petroleum sector, where new drilling and field developments could strengthen production, generate additional government revenue and create opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
✦What the drilling means for Nigeria The Akpo field is located in Petroleum Mining Lease 2 (PML 2), formerly Oil Mining Lease 130 (OML 130), approximately 150 kilometres offshore Nigeria.
Key Facts:Thursday: The company announced on Thursday that the drillship, Noble Black Rhino, had arrived at the Akpo field ahead of the campaign, with drilling of a well designated AFE-1X scheduled to begin on 13 November.2 November: According to a statement published on its Facebook page, the vessel crossed into Nigerian waters on 2 November after completing a 738-nautical-mile journey from Côte d’Ivoire.3 November: It arrived at the field at 6 a.m. on 3 November.2024: In February 2024, TotalEnergies announced the commencement of production from Akpo West, a development connected to the existing Akpo floating production, storage and offloading facility through subsea infrastructure.
Editorial Excerpt
TotalEnergies has deployed a deepwater rig to Akpo for fresh drilling, even as questions persist over the absence of publicly identifiable host community trusts for the field’s offshore operations, which Nigeria’s oil regulator linked to littoral communities in Rivers and Bayelsa.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
What is the latest development regarding Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission?
French energy giant TotalEnergies has deployed an ultra-deepwater drillship to Nigeria’s Akpo oil and gas field, preparing to commence a new drilling campaign that could expand activity in one of the country’s major offshore petroleum assets.
Who are the key organizations or public figures mentioned?
The primary parties identified in this coverage include Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Port Harcourt, NNPC Limited.
What timeline or key figures were confirmed?
The company announced on Thursday that the drillship, Noble Black Rhino, had arrived at the Akpo field ahead of the campaign, with drilling of a well designated AFE-1X scheduled to begin on 13 November.
