Sierra Leone has secured one of the most significant upstream partnerships in its history, signing a Reconnaissance Permit Agreement with Shell Exploration Company B.V. that hands the oil supermajor rights to evaluate nearly 20,594 square kilometres of offshore acreage — a development President Julius Maada Bio described as a defining moment in the country’s bid to responsibly unlock its natural resource wealth.
The agreement, formalised through the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), grants Shell rights to conduct advanced geological and geophysical studies across nineteen G-Blocks in Sierra Leone’s offshore: G-Blocks 91, 92, 93, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 133, 134, 135, 148, 149, 150, 162, 163, and 164. The reconnaissance programme will encompass seismic data quality control and interpretation, well data integration, detailed petrophysical analysis, basin modelling, petroleum systems evaluation, identification of structural traps and reservoir fairways, and play-based exploration and prospectivity mapping.
“This agreement with Shell marks a defining moment in Sierra Leone’s journey to responsibly unlock the value of our natural resources. It sends a strong and credible signal to the global investment community… that Sierra Leone is open for business, underpinned by transparency, stability and strong governance,” President Bio said in a statement released by the PDSL.
PDSL Director General Foday Mansaray underlined the strategic weight of securing Shell as a partner: “Signing this agreement underscores Sierra Leone’s growing visibility on the global energy stage. Securing Shell as a partner is a strong validation of the work we have undertaken to strengthen our geoscience database and regulatory framework.” He noted that Sierra Leone’s upstream strategy is anchored in de-risking frontier acreage through high-quality seismic data, advanced subsurface imaging, and transparent engagement with global operators. With operations in more than 70 countries and deep expertise in deepwater exploration, Shell’s entry is expected to play a pivotal role in assessing basin potential ahead of future licensing rounds.
Source: energy-pedia.com