Africa’s top four producers hosted 96 Rigs in the month of July 2012, according to the Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), a publication of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Algeria, the top gas producer-led the rest of the continent with 45 rigs, largely drilling for gas in the desert.
Nigeria came second with 36 rigs operating in the country, a reflection of relative peace after the heady years of militant attacks which ended with amnesty in the Niger Delta region in early 2010. Rig count has surged from an average of 15 in 2010 to 36 so far in 2012.
Libya, which has just resolved a brief, bitter civil war, hosted nine rigs in the month under review. Angola brings up the rear among the leading producers with six rigs.
MOMR reports that other African countries (which are non OPEC members) collectively hosted nine rigs, but did not indicate their names.
Egypt and South Sudan, which are Africa’s fifth and six largest producers, are not members of OPEC, and were not mentioned in the report. South Sudan has shut in production since January 2012 and had not opened the wells as of July 2012.
