AI Drives Revamp of Ageing Oilfields in Africa
Africa's ageing oilfields are undergoing a transformation as artificial intelligence technologies unlock new opportunities for enhanced oil recovery. Operators across the continent are leveraging data-driven systems, machine‑learning and regional policy incentives to revive mature reservoirs, boost output and improve efficiency.
Major energy firms have spearheaded this push. SLB opened a 3,200 sq ft Africa Performance Centre in Luanda, Angola on 28 January 2025, designed to offer a collaborative platform for digital tools, AI, new‑energy technology and capacity development for local talent. The centre marks a strategic investment as Angola aims to maintain production above one million barrels per day through to 2030.
Meanwhile, global oilfield service providers—including Baker Hughes and Halliburton—have established bases across Africa. Repsol, operating in Libya, Algeria and Morocco, is also integrating AI methods to support EOR efforts.
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AI implementation in EOR extends well beyond digital monitoring. It enables predictive modelling, reservoir characterisation and operational optimisation. By analysing geological and production data, AI tools generate more accurate forecasts for reservoir performance and help engineers deploy targeted interventions. Machine‑learning algorithms detect patterns across extensive datasets, revealing insights that traditional models might miss.
Policy frameworks have emerged as critical enablers. Angola's 2024 Incremental Production Initiative introduced tax incentives for reinvestment in legacy fields. The initiative already yielded new discovery results, including ExxonMobil's Likembe‑01 well in Block 15. It underscores how fiscal measures can stimulate investment and catalyse technological adoption in older asset bases.
At a continental level, the African Union Commission, in May 2025, identified AI as a strategic development priority. This decision is anticipated to open pathways for technology providers and oil operators to strengthen digital infrastructure and EOR capabilities.
High‑level platforms such as African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025, scheduled for 29 September to 3 October in Cape Town, underscore this trajectory. Sessions will specifically explore digital transformation, EOR and AI's role in exploration and production.
ExxonMobil will enhance the debate through representation by Katrina Fisher, its Angola managing director. Her participation highlights offshore discoveries like Likembe‑01 and Bavuca Sul‑1, exploration activities on Blocks 17/06 and 32/21 alongside TotalEnergies and Angola's national oil agency, and the impact of fiscal frameworks on production.
The renewed focus on EOR comes amid changing production profiles. Africa's mature assets supply more than 60 percent of global output, a share projected to grow to nearly 80 percent by 2030. As drilling declines or remains flat, enhanced recovery from existing fields becomes vital to sustaining supply.
SLB's Luanda centre is emblematic of that shift. It joins earlier local capacity‑building efforts such as Angola's Integrated Performance Excellence centre, launched in late 2024, devoted to optimising life‑cycle field performance with digital workflows and AI intelligence. SLB is also leveraging its Delfi™ cloud platform and Ora™ deep‑testing solutions to support autonomous drilling and digital reservoir evaluation.
Such technology is already delivering results. Rystad Energy reports that 10 percent year‑on‑year decline rates in mature fields can be mitigated through proactive AI‑driven interventions, while real‑time analytics shorten decision cycles and cut operating expenses.
Geopolitical contexts further support this transition. Angola's licensing round in early 2024 opened 12 blocks and announced nine offshore and four onshore prospects for 2025—steps that complement policy efforts to inject capital and technology into ageing assets.
Challenges remain. Balancing emissions and ageing infrastructure demands that AI deployment aligns with sustainability goals and just energy transition imperatives. African policymakers are under pressure to ensure that AI‑enabled production does not compromise climate targets or deepen energy inequities.
At African Energy Week, debate is expected to centre on reconciling EOR with carbon management, capacity development and economic inclusion. Industry leaders aim to forge integrated strategies that couple technological modernisation with environmental stewardship and local benefits.
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