Singapore-Based Rex International Revives Benin’s Sèmè Field with Major AK-2H Well Completion

Akrake Petroleum, an indirect subsidiary of Singapore-listed Rex International Holding, has completed drilling the AK-2H horizontal production well in Benin’s offshore Sèmè Field, encountering approximately 950 metres of oil-saturated reservoir sandstone.

The milestone revives a dormant asset that produced around 22 million barrels between 1982 and 1998 before shutdown due to low oil prices and technical issues, positioning Benin for a return to crude output after decades of minimal activity.

The well, drilled to a horizontal length of 1,405 metres through the Cretaceous-age Abeokuta Formation’s H6 reservoir, showed strong petrophysical indicators: average porosity exceeding 19% and oil saturation above 70%, with no water-bearing zones encountered. Advanced Logging While Drilling (LWD) tools guided the operation to target only oil-bearing sections. To optimise flow and manage risks, the well incorporates autonomous inflow control valves (AICVs) for sand and water control, plus a downhole electrical submersible pump (ESP) installation now underway.

Production from the Sèmè Field in Block 1 is expected to commence in early February 2026, following final well completion, hook-up of the mobile offshore production unit (MOPU) Stella Energy 1, and the floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit Kristina. Phase 1 targets initial output of 15,000–16,000 barrels per day, with plans for additional wells later in 2026 using a new rig to further develop the field.

Under a production sharing contract awarded in December 2023, Akrake holds 76% operatorship, the Beninese government 15%, and Octogone Trading 9%. The redevelopment leverages Rex’s low-cost production system, including the jack-up MOPU, to address past challenges and deliver economic benefits such as increased domestic energy supply, export revenues, fiscal inflows, and job creation in Benin.

The Sèmè Field, discovered by Union Oil in 1969 and initially developed by Norway’s Saga Petroleum, lies in shallow waters (20–30 metres) within Block 1, covering 551 square kilometres. Its historical production halted in 1998 amid prices around US$14 per barrel. Benin recorded zero crude output in 2024 per U.S. Energy Information Administration data, contrasting sharply with neighbours like Nigeria, Africa’s top producer.

Informed observers view the project as a strategic step for Benin’s upstream sector, potentially diversifying West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea energy landscape amid growing interest in legacy fields. Technological enhancements like AICVs and ESPs promise efficient, sustainable extraction, transforming a once-marginal asset into a viable contributor.

The announcement follows delays from technical glitches during the 2025 drilling campaign with Borr Drilling’s Gerd jack-up rig, which pushed timelines from late 2025. Rex’s focus on cost-effective redevelopment highlights opportunities for smaller players in mature African basins, where innovation can unlock stranded resources.

As hook-up progresses, expectations build for first oil in the coming days — a modest but symbolic boost for Benin’s economy and regional energy security.