E&P

Drilling operations have begun in the deepwater Baobab field. (Image source: Vaalco)

Vaalco Energy has announced the successful completion of its Phase 3 drilling programme offshore Gabon, and the commencement of drilling on its Baobab Phase 5 programme offshore Côte d’Ivoire

Offshore Gabon

Vaalco holds a 58.8% working interest in and operates the Etame Marin block, located offshore Gabon. Vaalco has successfully drilled, completed and placed on production the ETSEM-3H development well in an attic position within the SE Etame field, with a lateral wellbore of 300 meters of net pay in high-quality Gamba reservoir sands. Achieved stabilized initial flow rate of approximately 2,000 gross barrels of oil per day (“BOPD”), 1,140 BOPD net to Vaalco. This represents the final well in the Phase 3 drilling programme which is now complete, and Drill rig (Borr Norve) has been demobilised from the field.

Offshore Côte d’Ivoire

Following completion of its planned dry dock refurbishment in February 2026, the Baobab FPSO returned to Côte d’Ivoire and was successfully reconnected to field infrastructure in early April 2026.

Production resumed from all producing wells in June 2026. Followng the successful re-start of the deepwater Baobab field, the Baobab Phase 5 drilling operations have begun with the batch-setting of top-holes by the operator. After the top-hole sections of all wells are drilled, the wells will then be completed and placed on production sequentially. The current plan for the Phase 5 drilling campaign consists of four producers, three water injectors and two workovers. The first producer well is anticipated to come online towards the end of 2026, with meaningful production growth expected in 2027.

Vaalco acquired a 27.4% non-operated working interest in Block C1-4o offshore Côte d’Ivoirein 2024 through its acquisition of Svenska, , containint the Baobab producing field and the significant Kossipo discovery. It is now confirmed as operator of the Kossipo field with a 60% working interest, with a field development plan being actively progressed toward completion in the first half of 2027.The company sees Côte d’Ivoire as strategically expanding its West African focus area with a sizable producing asset that has significant upside potential and future development opportunities, and regards Côte d’Ivoire as an investment-friendly country.

Vaalco owns a diverse portfolio of production, development, and exploration assets spanning Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. It sees the Baobab restart and recent drilling results in Gabon as playing a significant role in supporting its future growth plans.

George Maxwell, Vaalco’s chief executive officer, commented, “Our continued success and organic project pipeline support Vaalco’s strategic focus on growing production, reserves and value for our shareholders.'

The recent European Norm 17975 addresses ‘grey zone’ energy-related risks during machine and pipeline interventions and proposes a task based framework for safe and efficient work. The norm can further increase the safety and efficiency of Lockout/Tagout programmes in a wide range of industries

A task based safety framework

10%-15% of fatal workplace accidents in Europe’s industries are related to maintenance operations according to data from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Many of these result from underestimating risks involved in specific tasks such as machine greasing, sensor adjustment or a quick cleaning that are not always seen as ‘maintenance activities’. They are kept outside the scope of Lockout/Tagout programmes even though workers are exposed to similar risks. European Norm (EN) 17975 addresses these grey zone risks by using task based risk analyses as a starting point.

“EN 17975 does not require an energy zero state for every machine or pipeline during every intervention”, said Mustafa Ekseri, EMEA Safety Engineer at Brady Corporation, a supplier of quality Lockout/Tagout solutions. “Not having to halt an entire production line for every intervention can save valuable time - if it is possible in a safe way. To achieve this, EN 17975 proposes a layered approach based on risks related to specific tasks on specific machines and pipes. These risks are to be highlighted in a risk analysis. In absence of a risk analysis, machine zero energy states remain the safety standard. In that sense, EN 17975 builds on ISO 14118 by providing more options for compliance with European workplace safety legislation. Impacted activities can be defined using EN 17007 and EN 13306 and are also listed in EN 17975.”

Risk analysis guidance

With machine and pipe intervention safety hinging on identified risks, industries will need thorough task-based risk analyses. Guidance can be found in other standards. “ISO 12100, primarily intended for machinebuilders to take into account their customers’ workplace safety, can be used as a basis for machine intervention risk analyses. ISO 31000 provides guidelines for managing risk in general, including 8 core principles, a framework and a process.”

“EN 17975 proposes 6 steps to analyse the risk in any machine intervention task, starting with the identification of the task, all the way to a feedback loop for continuous improvement. That includes a thorough energy source inventory and identification. The standard also requires a risk analysis update before applying Standard Operating Procedures, and during maintenance activities. In addition, EN 17975 advocates clearly identified degraded situations that may deviate from the standard risk assessment.”

Task-based isolation

EN 17975 uses a task based risk approach that was captured earlier in the French norm X60-400. Based on a task risk analysis, the European Norm proposes four types of risk control processes:

• Neutralisation: a process that, through design of the control systems, shuts down an item of equipment so that a list of predetermined tasks can be conducted in safety.

• Standard isolation: a process that results in the removal – by locking in position a single or double isolating device – of all energies & fluids where the presence, accidental retention, unexpected appearance does not have hazardous consequences for workers, the environment, and items.

• Reinforced isolation: a process that results in the removal – by separation or by a combination of isolating and opening devices (e.g. valve, tap, etc.) – of all energies & fluids where the presence, accidental retention, unintended appearance does not have hazardous consequences for workers, the environment, and items.

• Specific provisions: a process that results in the implementation of organisational or technical measures enabling observation, diagnostics, testing activities and work on settings for the item in service to be carried out safely, with energies & fluids present.

“All four risk control processes require an inventory of energies and fluids per machine with their effects on people, property and the environment, a mapping of the isolating devices and an identification sheet of energies, fluids, components and lockout devices. It also requires a shared risk assessment grid and process. EN 17975 describes the aim, application conditions, type of activities and other relevant factors for each of the 4 risk control processes.”

Lockout/Tagout guidance

Complying with EN 17975 requires a human, organisational and technical approach, all of which are outlined in the norm.

EN 17975 identifies 9 steps to carry out reinforced and standard isolations by Lockout/Tagout of energies and fluids. Steps involve separation of energies and fluids, isolation, lock out, tagout, identification, dispersion of energies, check, contain and inspect. “The ‘check’ step in EN17975 is already widely known in the industry as the ‘Tryout’ in Lockout/Tagout/Tryout or LoToTo. It is a vital step to help make sure that measures are implemented correctly and that they are still effective.”

“Brady safety engineers can help industries implement isolations by writing machine- and task specific lockout procedures. These can include all 9 steps from EN 17975, and they must be based on company task risk assessments. In addition, we can offer the right Lockout/Tagout tools for procedure compliance, set up a hands-on demo by locking out a specific machine, and provide training to relevant employees. Alternatively, a gap analysis can be made that identifies steps to be taken from the current state to arrive at compliant, best practice Lockout/Tagout.”

Impact on existing safety programmes

EN 17975 is not a legal requirement. “The standard however considerably facilitates compliance with EU workplace safety legislation. It sets a clear expectation for any machine intervention: if no risk analysis for the task is available, a machine zero energy state is required.”

“Because many safety programmes already involve complete machine isolation from every energy source, for every task, it is likely that the new norm will impact existing Lockout/Tagout-programmes. Based on the risk analysis, machine zero energy states may not be needed for every type of intervention.”

“Adversely, some tasks that were considered ‘small and safe’ may unveil more risk after a thorough risk analysis. This means a single machine could have several Lockout/Tagout procedures. The right procedure can be included with, or communicated via a QR-code on a work permit for example.”

“Some forms of automated safety may not be sufficient for every task without an underlying risk analysis. Take a safety cage for example, equipped with sensors that deactivate moving machine parts the moment someone enters the cage. Do these nullify any residual energy that may pose a risk? Is gravitational, and other potential energy taken into account? The goal of EN 17975 is to prevent accidents, and to avoid a false sense of safety that does not provide any real protection.”

With the European Norm 17975, industries in Europe can now rely on a common standard for compliance with EU and national safety legislation that involve risk control processes of energies and fluids in maintenance activities.

Get the Brady EN 17975 Lockout/Tagout webinar recording

Go from zero machine energy to zero intervention risk with task based Lockout/Tagout, driven by the European Norm 17975. Get your copy of the EN 17975 webinar from an experienced, worldwide Lockout/Tagout solution provider.

Discover more about:

•         the unique European framework EN 17975 provides to achieve safety and efficiency

•         how EN 17975 focuses on task-based safety, rather than machine zero energy states

•         how EN 17975 can be used to address ‘Grey zone’ risks

•         4 risk-based energy isolation levels presented by EN 17975

•         6 steps to control risks

•         Lockout/Tagout procedure writing

•         Lockout/Tagout device and padlock types

Get the webinar recording now >

Draw inspiration from our free guidebook on how to best implement Lockout/Tagout. Download the free guide >

BRADY EMEA

Mustafa Ekseri works as a Safety Engineer for Brady Europe, Middle East and Africa. He is involved in planning, writing procedures and rolling out Lockout/Tagout programmes at manufacturing and logistics workplaces throughout Europe. He is a Prevention Advisor Level 2, a Belgian legally regulated curriculum that equips professionals to handle safety and health risks in businesses.

Morocco is looking to develop its hydrocarbon resources to reduce its dependence on imported energy. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Geoscience specialist Viridien has announced a landmark multi-client collaboration agreement with the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM), Morocco's national agency for hydrocarbon and mineral resource development

The collaboration defines a joint framework for providing integrated subsurface data and analytics across Morocco's extensive and underexplored offshore and onshore sedimentary basins.

Through this collaboration, Viridien and ONHYM are looking to set new standards for subsurface evaluation, technical rigour and knowledge exchange, reinforcing Morocco's standing as an attractive destination for hydrocarbon investment in North Africa.

Amina Benkhadra, CEO of ONHYM, said, “This collaboration reflects ONHYM’s commitment to fostering innovation and international partnerships that unlock Morocco’s hydrocarbon potential. By combining our regional expertise and geoscientific knowledge with Viridien’s advanced technologies and capabilities, we are creating a powerful platform to enhance subsurface understanding, attract investment and accelerate exploration opportunities across Morocco.”

Dechun Lin, head of Earth Data, Viridien, said, “This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for Viridien as we deepen our presence in Africa and forge an enduring, partnership-driven relationship with ONHYM. By integrating our industry-leading imaging and data science capabilities with ONHYM's regional expertise, we are well positioned to support Morocco’s hydrocarbon potential.”

The development comes as Morocco, which remains heavily dependent on imported energy, is accelerating exploration and infrastructure development for gas in particular, with a view to diversifying energy supply for growing power generation and industry demands. Several key basins, both onshore and offshore, have demonstrated commercial gas potential.

Petralon 54 has revamped its production capacity significantly.

Petralon Energy is an African exploration and production company with proven capacity to acquire, develop, finance, and operate oil and gas assets

Operating through its subsidiary Petralon 54, the company holds a 100% working interest in the Dawes Island Field in the Eastern Niger Delta.

In just under six months, Petralon 54 has revamped its production capacity significantly through its recently established DI-3 well. Operations began on 14 March 2026 and has since delivered average additional daily production of approximately 2,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd), bringing the field's combined production capacity to approximately 4,800 bopd.

DI-2 has been onstream since October 2025 and DI-3 builds directly on the performance of its predecessor. Together, the two wells have sustained back-to-back drilling programme on a field that was non-producing at the time of Petralon's acquisition in 2021. Till date, the company has exported over 350,000 barrels of oil from the field via the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal, which is located around 30km from the field. The DI-3 well became operational with zero lost-time incidents and it reflects the company's commitment to world-class health, safety, and environmental standards across its operations.

Dawes Island is located approximately 15km from Port Harcourt in the Eastern Niger Delta. The island covers roughly 46 sq km and holds an estimated 17.6 mn barrels of recoverable oil. “Our success at Dawes Island was built on the conviction that Nigerians could acquire, develop, and operate world-class energy assets. That conviction once required courage, today, it stands on proof. The easy thing after DI-2 would have been to pause, but the determination and resilience of every single member of the Petralon team drove us forward, and DI-3 is the result of that effort. Progress like this is only possible through the strong collaboration we have built with our host communities, our regulator, and our partners. This is only the beginning of what Dawes Island can deliver," said Ahonsi Unuigbe, founder and chief executive officer of Petralon Energy.

Through the commencement of DI-3 production, Petralon Energy validates another major step in the phased development of Dawes Island. The company stays focused on growing production, strengthening its position as a leading indigenous operator in Nigeria's upstream sector, and advancing its longer-term ambition for the field.