Alen gets nod from Equatorial Guinea

Offshore staff

HOUSTON – Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines has approved the development plan for the offshore Alen field, operated by Noble Energy.

Alen, formerly known as Belinda, is a liquid-rich gas-condensate discovery in the Douala basin. Most of the reservoir is in block O, and extends into the northern part of block I.

Subject to government approval, the field will be unitized on the basis of 95% in block O and 5% in block I, although these interests could be reviewed following development drilling.

Alen use spare condensate storage capacity and other facilities on the Aseng FPSO, also operated by Noble, with the Alen partners bearing 33-50% of the relevant costs.

Partner PA Resources says there are further synergies for the two fields such as the shore base, production support, and onshore activities.

Initial development of Alen will include three production wells and three subsea gas injectors tied to a processing platform.

Produced condensate will be separated and piped to the Aseng FPSO on block I, 15 mi (24 km) to the south. Alen’s produced gas produced will be re-injected into the reservoir to maintain pressure and maximize liquids recovery.

The project is due onstream by end-2013 at a rate of 37,500 b/d.

Partners on block I are Noble Energy (40 %), Atlas Petroleum International (29 %), Glencore Exploration (EG) (25 %), and PA Resources' subsidiary Osborne Resources (6 %). State oil company GEPetrol has a 5% carried interest. In block O, the partners are Noble Energy (55%), Glencore Exploration Ltd (25%), and GEPetrol (20%).

01/13/2011