Studies to prospect oil and gas underway

The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum is carrying out a reconnaissance studies to establish the prospect of oil and gas in the entire Volta Basin in Ghana.

Reconnaissance surveys represent a type of field survey that is often used to gather initial information regarding the presence or absence of historic properties within a project area. They generally include limited shovel testing in areas that are likely to contain archaeological resources.

According to the Energy and Petroleum Minister, Mr Armah Kofi Buah, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) was preparing to drill six slim holes, which were to start early next year as part of the activities.

Answering questions on the sector on the floor of Parliament, on Tuesday, the Minister said the survey activities would be followed by the acquisition of seismic and Full Sensor Gravity survey over the entire basin.

The question, which stood in the name of Mrs Freda Akosua Prempeh, MP for Tano North, was seeking to know whether the Ministry was aware of oil the prospecting, which was done in the Mankranho area in the Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, and if so, when the Ministry was going to continue that project.

Mr Buah said the outcome of the survey activities would lead to either further enhanced studies to be carried out, or the immediate award of blocks for exploratory activities to begin.

“Wherever Mankranho would be placed in the outcome study profile from the above activities would determine what kind of further work that would be carried out in the Mankranho area, “Mr Buah said.

Meanwhile, the House continues the debate to approve the Financial Policy of the Government of Ghana for 2015.