Aker Energy has struck a deal to acquire Hess’ Ghanaian business for £70million.
Hess’ interests in Ghana include a 50% stake in the deepwater Tano Cape Three Points block, which sits in a “prolific petroleum region”.
Aker Energy is targeting about 400 million barrels through a floating production, storage and offloading vessel.
The company expects to submit a field development plan this year with first oil to follow in 2021.
Aker Energy is 50-50 owned by Norwegian holding company Aker and TRG, a company owned by entrepreneur Kjell Inge Rokke.
Aker president and chief executive Oyvind Eriksen said: “Aker is pleased to have been invited into this joint venture by TRG and looks forward to exploring the opportunity of building a significant E&P activity in Ghana inspired by what Aker has achieved on the NCS.
“The Aker Group is uniquely positioned to combine technological know-how from the upstream oil and gas industry with its extensive experience in the oil services to deliver a successful fast-track project.
“We are looking forward to partnering with the GNPC and have high expectations for what we can achieve together.”