ANADARKO Petroleum has announced an oil discovery in the West Cape Three Points block offshore Ghana as it encountered crude in underground rock similar to that in the country's largest oil field. The Akasa-I well "encountered 108 at feet (33 meters) of primarily high quality, oil-bearing pay from four main Turonian-aged sand packages, similar o those found in the Jubilee and Mahogany East areas," Houston-based Anadarko said. Anadarko has a 30.875 percent working  interest in the West Cape Three Points lock with partners Kosmos Energy (30.875perr cent).

Tullow Oil (26.396 per cent), Sabre Oil & Gas (1.854 per cent) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (10 cent carried interest)

"The Akasa-I discovery continues to build upon our partnership's successful West Cape Three Points programme, enhancing the re¬source potential of this prolific area," Bob Daniels, Anadarko senior vice president, worldwide exploration, said in a statement. "After successful appraisal, we expect the Akasa discovery along with previous discoveries at Teak to potentially anchor an additional devel¬opment on the block."

In addition, the partnership also successfully tested the Tweneboa-4 well in the Tano block, and the results included sustained flow rates of 3,500 barrels of condensate and 30,000 Mcf/d of gas. Those results combined with others from the Tweneboa-2 well will be used to optimize development plans for the Tweneboa/Enyenra complex, Anadarko said.

The partnership also mobilized the drillship to drill an "up-dip" appraisal well at Enyenra 3A, it added. In the Tano block, Anadarko holds an 18 per cent working interest, Tullow is the operator with a 49.95. per cent interest, Kosmos holds an 18 per cent working interest, Sabre holds 4.05 per cent .and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation holds 10 per cent carried interest.

Anadarko also provided updates of its activities elsewhere, reiterating how its Montserado prospect in the Liberian deep water was spud in late July it also was recently issued permits in the Gulf of Mexico for its Heidelberg appraisal well, the Cheyenne East exploration well and a development well in the Nansen field.

As for the Ivory Coast, where Anadarko suspended activities in February due to political turmoil, the company plans to resume drilling in the coming months, it said.

"Additionally, long-lead items are in place, and letters of intent have been signed for two rig slots in Cote d'Ivoire, where Anadarko plans to begin drilling late this year or early in 2012 at the Kosrou-1X and Paon-I exploration wells," it said.