TotalEnergies has sent a deepwater rig to the offshore Akpo field to carry out a fresh round of drilling, according to Premium Times. The move signals expanded activity on the asset as the company pushes ahead with its offshore operations in the country.
The deployment comes amid lingering questions over the setup of host community development trusts for the offshore field. Industry observers and stakeholders have noted the absence of publicly known trusts that are meant to support neighbouring areas.
Nigeria’s petroleum regulator had earlier connected the offshore operations at the Akpo field to coastal communities situated in Rivers and Bayelsa states. Under national petroleum rules, such trusts are created to channel direct developmental benefits to host and littoral populations located near operating fields.
Despite these unresolved concerns regarding community arrangements in both Niger Delta states, work on the offshore site is progressing with the arrival of the drilling equipment. Akpo remains one of the major deepwater assets off the Nigerian coast, contributing substantially to national hydrocarbon output.
Neither the operator nor the regulatory authorities have issued a clear public clarification on the state of the trusts for the affected coastal areas as the fresh drilling gets underway.
