With just two months to Uganda’s first oil production, the country’s long-awaited entry into the oil-producing league is within touching distance after China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) conducted a high-stakes emergency drill to test operational readiness, now pegged at 99 percent.
The government set July this year as the target for first oil.
The Kingfisher Development Area (KFDA) operated by CNOOC, will produce 40,000 barrels of crude oil per day during peak production and so far 18 wells out of the 31 have been drilled.
However, CNOOC said it is currently at the testing stage of equipment as the date approaches, having drilled 18 wells ready for initial production.
Andrew Mbigiti, the senior media and publicity supervisor at CNOOC Uganda Limited, said the drills are part of pre-commissioning activities aimed at ensuring operational readiness and safety before production begins.
Mbigiti said the purpose of this drill is to help prepare for an emergency and to test the equipment.
Mbigiti said the exercise not only tests machinery but also equips national staff with hands-on experience in handling emergencies.
The exercise involved testing a range of specialized equipment, including fire pumps, cooling and protection systems, remote hydraulic sandblasting cutting devices, and high-temperature penetration cutting tools designed to handle extreme emergency scenarios such as well blow-outs.
During the drill, engineers demonstrated how fires can be extinguished before proceeding to more complex operations such as cutting through obstructing pipes to access a damaged wellhead.
The company showcased both hot cutting, which operates at temperatures of about 4,000 degrees Celsius, and cold cutting, which uses high-pressure water and sand.
He added that the timing of the drill is critical as Uganda transitions from the development phase to production.
Adolf Karubanga, a senior petroleum officer, said emergency preparedness reflects the overall maturity of the sector.
Mbigiti explained that Uganda’s oil sector, comprising Kingfisher, Tilenga and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, requires a high level of coordination, as an incident in one segment could affect the entire value chain.
Progress at the Kingfisher project is in its final stages, with officials reporting that the central processing facility is more than 99 percent complete.
Jane Byaruhanga from Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) said they are updating operational oil spill contingency plans to align with the transition to the production phase, adding that drills are essential for identifying weaknesses and strengthening response systems.
UNOC, as the government nominee, holds 15 percent participating interest in the project.
CNOOC Uganda Limited (operator) and TotalEnergies EP Uganda hold 28.33 percent and 56.67 percent respectively.
UNDER-COUNTING UNDERWAY FOR UGANDA’S FIRST OIL PRODUCTION
