Data to de-risk Africa’s offshore assets

Multinational

Quinton Gero, head of business development in Africa for Fugro, talks to The Energy Year about Africa’s deepwater exploration outlook and rising demand for data, remote technologies and risk mitigation in offshore projects.

Fugro is a geodata specialist that provides geophysical, geotechnical and asset integrity solutions for energy and infrastructure projects.

• Africa’s offshore oil and gas sector is entering a new growth phase, with deepwater exploration and development activity gaining momentum, particularly in West Africa.
• Demand for high-quality data is rising as operators look to reduce uncertainty, improve capital allocation and mitigate risks before committing to offshore projects.
• Remote, autonomous and AI-enabled technologies are becoming more important in African offshore projects, especially where limited port and support infrastructure increases operational risk.

What is Fugro’s outlook on Africa’s offshore oil and gas segment over the next five years?
Africa is entering a new phase of offshore growth, with FIDs signalling long-term confidence from major operators. Africa is poised for a surge in exploration and development activities, and we see a strong outlook for the next five years.
A few highlights that come to mind are the Bonga North and Bonga South projects in Nigeria, as well as the Baleine development in Côte d’Ivoire, which is now entering its third phase. Activity is also picking up in Namibia, with clients very active there, while in East Africa, a second FLNG facility is being developed in Mozambique. The bulk of near-term offshore activity is concentrated in West Africa.

Which markets are generating the most business for Fugro?
My focus is on deepwater exploration and developments in Africa, and in Namibia, we have several clients making an entry. We are receiving requests for multiple exploration and development services, such as geophysical, geotechnical, environmental and metocean studies.
We are also well established in Angola, and we see Côte d’Ivoire beginning to show promise. There is definitely more work to come from those markets. We are very active in the upstream sector in West Africa and work with many of the major operators active there, supporting their exploration and development programmes. Our in-house capabilities cover various segments of the project cycle, but we are currently involved in exploration and development services such as drilling support and rig repositioning.

What risks or operational challenges do oil and gas companies mainly seek to address with the data Fugro can provide?
High-quality, detailed data is essential for informed decision making at every stage of a project. Fugro has been in Africa for many years; we have a large footprint here, and we have a wealth of knowledge that has been developed over time to help our clients mitigate risks from the outset of projects, during development phases, through to decommissioning.
Part of our work can be done beforehand through desktop studies or by carefully analysing data before a vessel is mobilised to acquire more. The better you understand the regional or localised context of your study area before activities start offshore, the more informed decision-makers will be in committing capital to exploration or development.
Mobilising a large vessel into Africa has associated risks, such as port limitations. In European waters, there are many ports which could be called on should immediate support be required, but not here. That is why our clients are pushing for more powerful remote technologies and processes that can lower offshore uncertainty, limit human exposure to offshore risks and improve outcomes.

Do you see an appetite for AI and robotic applications among the companies you work with in Africa?
Remote and autonomous technologies are becoming essential to reducing offshore risk and improving efficiency, particularly in regions with limited infrastructure. We are seeing more interest in AI and robotics. Innovation will be key to keeping pace with market demand, and Fugro prioritised R&D in 2025, filing 46 new patents. We want our solutions to be ahead of the curve, and that means continual R&D investment.
We already use remotely operated vehicles for inspections, and we have brought in autonomous underwater vehicles for deepwater scopes. With AI, we see room for innovation in both segments, and although African operators are becoming more receptive, it is still a tough environment in which to introduce new technologies.

What will define Fugro’s strategy in Africa going forward?
Over the past 60 years, Fugro has acquired data and provided insights to help build and maintain countless structures on land and at sea. Our worldwide strategy is to deepen our existing commercial relationships, generate recurring revenue, and expand into new market segments. It is fully applicable in Africa.
With greater global interest in ensuring energy supplies, we are seeing growing momentum in energy transition projects across the region. At the same time, oil and gas activity continues to play an important role, particularly as Africa emerges as a key frontier for deepwater development. We are focused on supporting our clients across both traditional and emerging energy markets, wherever their priorities lie.

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