Akrake Targets End Of January 2026 Start for Benin’s Seme Field

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. The operator moved the schedule after it missed its earlier target of starting before the end of 2025.

Drilling and Facilities in Place

Akrake will start production after it completes drilling at the AK-2H production well. The company plans to begin work early that week, according to its statement. The operator confirmed that it has already installed the main facilities. The Stella Energy 1 mobile offshore production unit and the Kristina floating storage and offloading unit are already on site ahead of start-up.

The drilling campaign includes the AK-1P exploration well, which will assess deeper, untapped reservoirs. It also includes two horizontal production wells, AK-1H and AK-2H, which will target the H6 reservoir.

Technical Challenges and Project Outlook

Geomechanical difficulties in unstable shale layers above the reservoir slowed operations and triggered several technical incidents and drilling restarts. Akrake collected new geomechanical data during the campaign, adjusted drilling parameters, and crossed the complex zones while drilling the AK-2H well.

The update comes as Beninese authorities and project partners maintain high expectations for the project. The operator reported technical difficulties in late December but did not provide a revised timetable at the time. By setting a date, Akrake aims to improve project visibility and show that it has identified and addressed the main operational obstacles.

Akrake must complete the AK-2H well without further major incidents to meet the end-January deadline. The project expects initial production to reach a plateau of around 15,000 barrels per day. Data from the AK-1P exploration well should also help the operator assess deeper layers that could extend the field’s life and lift output over the medium term.

Ownership Structure

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