By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 27 -- Chevron Corp. subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd. (Cabgoc) reported start-up of oil production from Lobito field on deepwater Block 14 off Angola.
Benguela, Belize, Lobito, and Tomboco fields form the BBLT Development, one of Chevron's "Big 5" projects. Chevron announced first oil from the Benguela Belize compliant piled tower in January (OGJ Online, Jan. 24, 2006). First oil from the Lobito-Tomboco subsea project was achieved this month.
The BBLT project, 50 miles offshore in 1,300 ft of water, is being developed in two phases. Phase 2—Lobito-Tomboco—involved the construction and installation of three subsea centers, each with a capability to handle nine subsea wells, tied back to the Benguela-Belize drilling and production platform and compliant tower.
With the addition, the project is currently producing more than 88,000 b/d of oil from a total of 4 wells, and will continue to ramp-up as additional wells and fields are brought on line over the next 2 years, Cabgoc said. The project's peak production is expected to reach 200,000 b/d of oil.
Cabgoc is operator of Block 14 with 31% interest; other partners include Sonangol Pesquisa & Producao SARL 20%, Eni Angola Exploration BV 20%, Total E&P Angola 20%, and GALP-Exploracao e Producao 9%.