Offshore staff
SYDNEY, Australia -- ROC Oil has issued an update on its exploration and production programs offshore China.
Latest milestones in theWZ 6-12 and WZ 12-8 West Oil Field development in the Beibu Gulf include the start of platform fabrication and installation, and preparation for this year’s exploration and appraisal drilling campaign.
The partners plan to drill four in-field appraisal wells, including three from the WZ 6-12 wellhead platform following its scheduled installation this spring. If the wells are commercial, they could all be completed for use as additional producers.
However, approval of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment by the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) has been delayed by SOA’s nationwide reviews into offshore operations. This follows the leak last June at the ConocoPhillips-operated Penglai 19-3 oil field in Bohai Bay.
ROC expects approval to come through before mid-year, with first oil flowing from the Beibu Gulf project by end-2012 and ramp-up to peak production during 2013.
At the Zhao Dong oil fields in Bohai Bay, 14 new producer wells and three injector wells were drilled during 2011.
The subsea oil pipeline fromZhao Dong to the Dagang refinery was fully commissioned and began deliveries in October. Use of this line has eliminated the need to transport crude by barge, which previously caused temporary production and delivery interruptions due to bad weather and Tanggu port capacity issues.
Studies continue for the Zhanghai and Chenghai blocks. A second appraisal well will likely be drilled in one of the blocks during 2012 – the first well, ZD CP2N-H-1, was brought into production in August.
Offshore Sarawak, ROC has a 48% interest in the Balai Cluster Small Field Risk Service Contract. Pre-development progress includes site surveys and soil boring of offshore field locations in preparation for drilling and platform installation; reprocessing of seismic data and commencement of data interpretation; tendering and awards for fabrication of wellhead platforms; and an agreement to purchase a vessel for conversion into an early production facility.
2/2/2012
