Etinde partners leaning toward liquids-based development

March 29, 2019
Last year’s appraisal drilling on the Etinde area offshore Cameroon suggests a proven and probable resource of 1 tcf of wet gas, according to partner Bowleven.

Offshore staff

EDINBURGH, UK– Last year’s appraisal drilling on the Etinde area offshore Cameroon suggests a proven and probable resource of 1 tcf of wet gas, according to partner Bowleven.

This is one of the findings from the data collected from the campaign to validate the IM and Isongo E (IE) field development plans and the Etinde volumes.

The New Age-led consortium now expects the Etinde development to be more liquids-focused, and the likely capex has come down as the potential gas production volume has also fallen.

Work since last year’sIM-6 and IE-4 wells has included analysis of fluid samples, cores, side wall cores, and log data. The samples are currently undergoing chemical, petrophysical and sedimentological analysis, and micro-fossil based stratigraphic studies.

In addition, the partners are looking to improve the geological correlation between all the existing wells to update reservoir mapping and continuity models.

The immediate priority is to complete the review of the field development options by mid-year: various consultancies and providers are already working on front-end engineering design studies across a range of scenarios, including a proposed liquids-based development of the IM field.

Discussions are also under way with potential gas off-takers.

The partners believe the main economic value of the Etinde field lies in its condensate and light oil resource base; however, the high volume of wet gas (natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas fractions and CO2 content) has to be dealt with.

In Bowleven’s view, the most likely way forward will involve liquid sales alongside gas supply for power generation in Cameroon, and LNG exports. The LPG in the wet gas could be sold domestically or for export, depending on how and where gas processing is performed.

03/29/2019