ANPG, ExxonMobil announce new discovery offshore Angola
Angola’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), ExxonMobil and the Block 15 partners report finding a new hydrocarbon discovery at the Vicango Este-01 exploration well in deepwater offshore Block 15.
The well is located about 370 kilometers (230 miles) northwest of Luanda and was drilled in approximately 940 meters of water by the Valaris DS-9 drillship. It encountered around 25 meters of high-quality, hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone, with reported porosity of 22%.
The find is the 20th discovery in Block 15 over the past 30 years and the third in the block in the last four years. Block 15, one of Angola’s most productive deepwater areas, has produced more than 2.7 billion barrels of oil since production began in 2003.
No estimate of oil in place, recoverable resources, development cost or first-production timing has been disclosed. Further evaluation and testing will be required to assess commercial potential. The partners noted that new discoveries in a mature producing block can increase the value of existing infrastructure and support future production opportunities.
Brian Unietis, President and General Manager of ExxonMobil Angola, said: “After more than 23 years of successful production from Block 15, this discovery demonstrates the continued potential of Angola’s offshore resources and reflects our ongoing commitment to exploration and development in the country. Block 15 has been one of Angola’s most significant deepwater developments, and discoveries like this help increase the value of existing infrastructure while supporting future production opportunities.”
Paulino Jerónimo, Chairman of the Board of ANPG, added that the result is partly due to adjustments in Angola’s legal framework and incentives for investors, including the extension of the Block 15 license to 2032, Decree 8/24 on incremental production, and Decree 5/18 on exploration within and near development areas.
Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, an ExxonMobil affiliate, operates the block with a 36% interest. Partners are Azule Angola Limited (24%), Azule Angola BV (18%), Equinor Angola Block 15 A.S. (12%) and Sonangol E&P (10%). ANPG is the concessionaire.
Block 15 is a mature deepwater concession that has been a cornerstone of Angola’s offshore production for more than two decades. Incremental exploration and development in and around existing facilities is part of efforts to extend field life and sustain output from established infrastructure.
About the Author
Bruce BeaubouefBruce Beaubouef
Senior Lead Reporter / Managing Editor
Bruce Beaubouef is Managing Editor for Offshore magazine. In that capacity, he plans and oversees content for the magazine; writes features on technologies and trends for the magazine; writes news updates for the website; creates and moderates topical webinars; and creates videos that focus on offshore oil and gas and renewable energies. Beaubouef has been in the oil and gas trade media for 25 years, starting out as Editor of Hart’s Pipeline Digest in 1998. From there, he went on to serve as Associate Editor for Pipe Line and Gas Industry for Gulf Publishing for four years before rejoining Hart Publications as Editor of PipeLine and Gas Technology in 2003. He joined Offshore magazine as Managing Editor in 2010, at that time owned by PennWell Corp. Beaubouef earned his Ph.D. at the University of Houston in 1997, and his dissertation was published in book form by Texas A&M University Press in September 2007 as The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: U.S. Energy Security and Oil Politics, 1975-2005.