• Akrake Petroleum targets end-January 2026 start at Benin’s Seme field
• Offshore project delayed by drilling difficulties in unstable shale layers
• Initial production expected to reach 15,000 barrels per day

Rex International’s indirect subsidiary Akrake Petroleum expects to start production at the Seme offshore field in Benin by the end of January 2026, the company said on Monday, Jan. 12, following a delay to the original schedule that had targeted a start before the end of 2025.

The start of production remains contingent on the completion of drilling at the AK-2H production well. Work is expected to begin early that week, according to a company statement. The operator said the main facilities were already in place. The Stella Energy 1 mobile offshore production unit and the Kristina floating storage and offloading unit have already been deployed at the site ahead of the start of operations.

The drilling campaign includes the AK-1P exploration well, aimed at assessing deeper, untapped reservoirs. It also includes two horizontal production wells, AK-1H and AK-2H, targeting the H6 reservoir.

The company said operations were slowed by geomechanical difficulties in unstable shale layers above the reservoir, leading to several technical incidents and drilling restarts. Akrake said new geomechanical data collected during the work enabled adjustments to drilling parameters and allowed the complex zones to be crossed during drilling of the AK-2H well.

The announcement comes amid high expectations from Beninese authorities and project partners. Technical difficulties were reported in late December, without a revised timetable being provided at the time. By setting a date, the operator is seeking to provide greater clarity on the project and signal that the main operational obstacles have been identified and partially resolved.

Meeting the end-January deadline will depend on the completion of the AK-2H well without further major incidents. Initial production is expected to reach a plateau of around 15,000 barrels per day. Data from the AK-1P exploration well should also help assess the potential of deeper layers that could extend the life of the field and boost output over the medium term.

Akrake holds a 76% interest in the block. The government of Benin holds 15%, while local oil company Octogone Trading holds the remaining 9%.

Olivier de Souza