Nigerian independent South Atlantic Petroleum Ltd (Sapetro) may have commenced drilling the near-field exploration well Seme SW, around the Seme oil field, in Block 1. The Sèmè SW target had previously been identified but whether this becomes the company’s first operated well in Benin remains to be seen. It is understood the Noble Drilling’s jack up rig ‘Don Walker”, currently in Cameroon, has been contracted to do the job as the structure lies in around 30metres of water. Block 1, including Sèmè field, covers 551 sq km in the shallow waters of the Benin Embayment, at the maritime border with Nigeria.
It was awarded in December 2004 and is held 100% by Sapetro. In March 2007, Sapetro completed a 360 sq km 3D seismic survey over the Sèmè field and its environs. It is believed this data will form the basis for a redevelopment plan of the Sèmè field aimed at putting the field back into production. Sapetro has a share in the development of the Akpo deepwater field off Nigeria. Its chairman is General Theophilus Danjuma, formerly minister of defense under Olusegun Obasanjo.
