Eni has discovered oil in Block 15/06, in the Ochigufu exploration prospect offshore Angola. ENI said the find was "important" and would be fast tracked to production through the Ngoma floating production, storage and offloading vessel on the company's West Hub development.
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Image of the Ocean Rig Poseidon From Ocean Rig |
Ochigufu 1 NFW, the 10th commercial oil discovery in the block, is about 150km off the coast and is estimated to contain 300MMbbl in place.
Block 15/06 is approximately 350km northwest of Luanda and covers about 2984sq km.
The well was drilled by the Ocean Rig Poseidon drillship in 1337m water depth and reached a total depth of 4470m.
Eni says Ochigufu 1 NFW was directionally drilled to reach the targets in optimal position and proved a net oil pay of 47m contained in the Lower Miocene and Oligocene sandstones with very good petrophysical properties. The data acquired in the Ochigufu 1 well indicates a production capacity equal to more than 5000bbl/d.
Due to the well’s proximity, 9.8km from the Ngoma, Eni says it allows an increased resource base for the West Hub project.
Eni’s CEO Claudio Descalzi,who is currently the subject of a corruption investigation related to the acquisition of the deepwater oil prospecting lease 245 offshore Nigeria, was quoted as saying, “This important discovery, which will be brought into production in record time, adds even more value to Block 15/06.”
The company has studies underway to evaluate an early tie-in to the Ngoma, which is already on location in the West Hub and designed to handle 100,000bbl/d.
In Block 15/06, the two oil developments West Hub and East Hub, have been sanctioned.
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| Map from EIA |
West Hub
Eni’s West Hub development project includes the Sangos, Cinguvu and Mpungi fields. The project involves the drilling of 21 subsea wells made up of 12 producers, four alternate water and gas injectors and five water injectors.
According to Eni, it is the first development that will come on-stream among the blocks awarded in Angola's 2006 licensing round.
Sonasing's FPSO Ngoma is at Eni's West Hub under a 12-year lease and operate contract. Water depth is 1000-1500m and production start up for the West Hub project is expected by the end of this year.
East Hub
The East Hub will produce the Cabaca North and southeast discoveries in Block 15/06 through 10 subsea wells tied back to a Bumi Armada FPSO with peak production estimated at approximately 17,000bbl/d net to ENI. The FPSO is expected to start operations on the field in Q4 2016.
In August, Eni confirmed a US$3billion contract with Bumi Armada for an FPSO. The 12-year contract has eight yearly options.
Bumi Armada will convert a very large crude carrier class tanker for the East Hub. It will have an external turret and mooring system, connected to 18 risers and umbilicals. In addition, the FPSO will have 1.8MMbbl storage capacity, 80,000bo/d oil production capacity, and ability to inject 120,000bbl/d water. It will also be able to handle 120,000MMscf/d natural gas.
Bumi described the FPSO as being fourth generation, with 15,000-tonne topside weight. It will be moored in 450m water depth.
Eni has been present in Angola since 1980, with a daily production of 90,000boe/d in 2013. Eni is also the operator of Block 35 in the deepwater Kwanza basin off Angola.
Eni is operator of Block 15/06 with 35% interest, along with partners Sonangol P&P (30%), SSI Fifteen Ltd. (25%), Falcon Oil Holding Angola SA (5%) and Statoil Angola Block 15/06 (5%).
In May, Statoil announced that it was selling off its 5% participating interest in Block 15/06 to Sonangol for $200 million.
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