SUBSEA SYSTEMS
Gene Kliewer - Houston
Sonangol approves Angola block 31 development plan
Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol) has approved BP’s plan to develop a series of deepwater oil discoveries in offshore Angola’s block 31.
The block 31 developments program is based on a standard development concept intended to reduce cycle time, optimize capital, and maximize efficiency through standardized design, fabrication, and commissioning.
The first project will comprise the Plutão, Saturno, Vênus, and Marte (PSVM) fields in the northeast sector of block 31, in a water depth of approximately 2,000 m (6,562 ft), some 400 km (249 mi) northwest of Luanda. Construction work is expected to start this year with first oil in 2011 building to a plateau of 150,000 b/d by 2012.
Operator BP has announced 15 discoveries in block 31 to date. Full development under this plan will consist of multiple hubs similar to the PSVM plans. The second development probably will be in the southeast area of the block.
BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. as operator holds 26.67 %. The other interest owners are Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Block 31) Ltd. (25%), Sonangol EP (20%), Statoil Angola AS (13.33%), Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Ltd (10%), and TEPA (Block 31) Ltd. with 5%. Sonangol E.P. is concessionaire.
“Approval by Sonangol for the program of developments in block 31 supports BP’s production profile out to the end of the next decade and beyond demonstrates the scale of the resource base in block 31,” says Andy Inglis, CEO of BP Exploration and Production.
“This is the first time Sonangol has approved a program in this way, not just for PSVM but for subsequent developments in a block with great potential,” says Jose Patricio, president of BP Angola.
EnCana orders risers for offshore Nova Scotia
Claxton Engineering Services Ltd., an Acteon company, has won a contract exceeding £1 million ($1.86 million) by EnCana.
Claxton Engineering will supply subsea risers, interface connections, and personnel for drilling and completions operations for five wells on a high-pressure natural gas platform, in 44 m (144 ft) of water, 175 km (109 mi) offshore of Nova Scotia, in the Deep Panuke field.
During 2Q 2009, the equipment will be shipped to Halifax, where Claxton Engineering will prepare it for operations. The project is being conducted from a Rowan Gorilla class jackup rig and drilling is scheduled to begin 3Q 2009, with Claxton engineers on hand to help run and pull the riser. It is expected that the project will be producing by 2010.
Acteon’s sister company, 2H Offshore, will be providing riser analysis throughout the operation.
RPSEA announces ultra deepwater projects
The Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) has chosen nine additional projects for negotiations leading to an award under the Ultra Deepwater Program (UDW)
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Volume 68 Issue 9
September 2008
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