Sierra Leone is set to acquire new 3D seismic data in its offshore basin starting in June 2025, in a move that marks the most active phase of upstream exploration in the country in over a decade. The data acquisition program will focus on the northwestern offshore area, with operations expected to last 60 days and processing to be completed within six to eight months.
Announcing the project at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris, Foday Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate, also confirmed that a separate reprocessing effort is underway in the southern part of the basin in partnership with TGS. That work is scheduled for completion ahead of African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town.
“We are hoping this time next year that we can announce Sierra Leone will be drilling its first well since 2012,” said Mansaray. “We are also doing work to de-risk, reprocessing data south of the basin. Once all the de-risking of the basin happens, we’ll be in a position to launch a licensing round. Any prospective investors can approach us directly and we can directly negotiate.”
The country’s offshore basin spans approximately 170,000 Km2, with 55,Km2 currently available for direct negotiation. Eight wells have been drilled, with four discoveries made – including the Mercury-1 discovery, the largest to date.
Two Nigerian independents are currently active in the basin, and the government is encouraging new entries through a flexible licensing approach. To obtain a contract area, investors must secure three contiguous blocks.
Sierra Leone’s fiscal terms include a 10% royalty on crude oil and a 5% royalty on natural gas. Mansaray emphasized the government’s openness to fast-track negotiations with technically qualified, risk-tolerant investors.