阿克拉克石油公司预计将于2026年1月底开始在贝宁近海1号区块的Sm油田进行石油生产，前提是AK-2H水平生产井的钻井作业完成。AK-2H井储层段的钻井作业预计将于1月12日当周初开始。

移动式海上生产装置 Stella Energy 1 和浮式储存和卸载装置 Kristina 已完成升级并就位，准备启动生产。

Akrake 在 Sm 的钻井活动包括一口勘探井 AK-1P，目标是更深的含油气储层 H7 和 H8，以及两口水平生产井 AK-1H 和 AK-2H，在 H6 储层单元中钻探。

钻井作业中，油藏上方覆盖层遭遇了地质力学不稳定的页岩层，导致多次卡钻事故，需要对覆盖层段进行重钻。利用钻井过程中获取的最新地质力学数据优化了钻井参数，使钻井团队得以成功钻穿AK-2H井的覆盖层。

随着 AK-2H 井投产，由于自升式钻井平台 Borr Gerd 的合同期即将结束，其余油井的钻井作业将暂停。

运营商计划于2026年晚些时候调集一台新的钻井平台以完成钻井作业。AK-2H井的生产数据将用于评估在第二次钻井作业期间钻探另一口H6生产井的潜力。

Akrake Petroleum expects to start oil production at the Sèmè Field in Block 1 offshore Benin by the end of January 2026, subject to completion of drilling operations on the AK-2H horizontal production well. Drilling of the reservoir section of AK-2H is expected to begin early in the week of 12 January.

The mobile offshore production unit Stella Energy 1 and the floating storage and offloading unit Kristina have been upgraded and positioned on location in preparation for production startup.

Akrake’s drilling campaign at Sèmè comprised one exploration well, AK-1P, targeting deeper hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs H7 and H8, and two horizontal production wells; AK-1H and AK-2H, drilled in the H6 reservoir unit.

Drilling operations encountered geomechanically unstable shale layers in the overburden above the reservoir, leading to multiple stuck pipe incidents and requiring redrilling of the overburden section. Updated geomechanical data acquired during drilling was used to optimize drilling parameters, allowing the drilling team to successfully drill through the overburden in the AK-2H well.

Following startup of production from AK-2H, drilling operations on the remaining wells will be suspended as the contract period for the jackup drilling rig Borr Gerd reaches its end.

The operator plans to mobilize a new drilling rig later in 2026 to complete the drilling program. Production data from AK-2H will be used to assess the potential for drilling an additional H6 production well during the second drilling campaign.