GLOBAL E&P
Tracy Dulle - Houston
Latin America
Block BM-S-11, in ultra deep Santos basin waters, has proved the existence of another light oil field, with specific gravity around 30º API, in the pre-salt reservoirs, according to Petrobras.
Block BM-S-11 is composed of two exploratory areas. The first well, the 1-BRSA-369A-RJS (1-RJS-628A), was drilled in the larger of the two, informally called Tupi. The discovery was announced on July 11, 2006, and its assessment plan was approved by the NPA and is currently in execution.
The new discovery well, called 1-BRSA-618-RJS (1-RJS-656) and informally know as Iara, is in the smaller area of the original block, and 2,230 m (7,316 ft) from the water line. The well is being drilled in search of deeper prospects, the company says.
The discovery was proved by a light oil sampling collected via a cable test carried out in reservoirs at a depth of 5,600 m (18,372 ft).
After well completion, the consortium will proceed with the activities and make the investments required to verify both field dimensions and oil reservoir characteristics by forwarding an assessment plan to the NPA, as provided for in the concession agreement.
North Sea/Europe
First oil has flowed from the Vilje field to the Alvheim FPSO, according to StatoilHydro. The Vilje field is in the northern North Sea, north of Heimdal field.
The field development includes two subsea templates and two production wells. Oil from Vilje runs in a new 19-km (12-mi) pipeline to the FPSO Alvheim, which is operated by Marathon Petroleum Norge AS. Oil from Vilje is brought up naturally without any form of stimulation. The field connects to a giant water zone, so water injection will not be required.
|
First oil from Vilje field was piped to the FPSO Alvheim. Photo courtesy of Marathon Oil.
|
Recoverable reserves at Vilje are estimated at 52 MMbbl of oil, and the production is expected to plateau at 35,000 b/d by the end of 2Q 2008, the company says.
Africa
Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Ltd. has started production from the Saxi and Batuque fields as part of the Kizomba C project offshore Angola.
Added to the Mondo field already on production, the entire Kizomba C development is expected to produce 200,000 b/d of oil before year-end.
Kizomba C is 90 mi (145 km) offshore Angola in about 2,400 ft (800 m) water depth. The development includes two FPSOs and 36 subsea wells.
In addition to Esso Angola (operator, 40%), other co-venturers in block 15 are BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. (26.67%), ENI Angola Exploration B.V. (20%), and Statoil Angola Block 15 A.S. (13.33%). Sonangol is concessionaire.
•••
Crude oil production has begun from the Agbami field, offshore Nigeria.
First oil from the field was achieved on July 29 from an FPSO. Initial production is expected to exceed 100,000 b/d and is projected to increase to 250,000 b/d of oil and natural gas liquids by the end of 2009, operator Chevron says.
The Agbami field, discovered in 1998, is the largest deepwater discovery in Nigeria and is estimated to hold potentially recoverable volumes of 900 MMbbl.
Next Page
Page 1 of 4
Volume 68 Issue 9
September 2008
Add RSS Feed