By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 27 -- Total Austral SA, Buenos Aires, began production June 24 from Carina-Aries gas fields on Block CMA-1 off Tierra del Fuego—the largest offshore hydrocarbons recovery project in Argentina.
Production is under way from Carina field, 80 km offshore in 80 m of water, and will begin at the start of 2006 from Aries, 30-40 km offshore in water 60 m deep. Production is expected to plateau at 8 million cu m/day.
Natural gas from these most southerly gas platforms in the world—both unmanned—is piped to shore where it is separated at Rio Cullen and the gas processed at Cañ adon Alfa 27 km to the north. The consortium operates both plants.
Total holds a 37.5% interest in the fields. Partners are Wintershall Energía SA 37.5% and Pan American Energy LLC 25%. The consortium has invested $440 million in developing the fields.
By 2027, the consortium is expected to have produced 56 billion cubic m of natural gas, 3.4 million tonnes of condensate, and 2.4 million tonnes of LPG from the fields.
Carina field, in the initial phase of development, currently has two horizontal boreholes extending from its production platform. Others are scheduled for 2013-14. Three boreholes are planned for Aries field.
Carina field produces from Cretaceous/Jurassic Springhill sandstone almost 1,000 m below the seabed. Aries field's deposits are about 1,600 m below the surface.
