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    Angola awards deepwater PSAs

    June 7, 1999
    Angola license awards [67,892 bytes] As interest mounts in Angola's hot deepwater play, state firm Sonangol has awarded production-sharing agreements to BP Amoco plc, Elf Exploration Angola, and Exxon Corp. BP Amoco was awarded Block 31, which covers 5,400 sq km of the prolific Lower Congo basin in water 1,500-2,500 m deep. BP is now operator of Blocks 18 and 31 and interest holder in a further six licenses here. Block 31 license interests are: operator BP Amoco 26.67%, Exxon unit Esso
    As interest mounts in Angola's hot deepwater play, state firm Sonangol has awarded production-sharing agreements to BP Amoco plc, Elf Exploration Angola, and Exxon Corp.

    BP Amoco was awarded Block 31, which covers 5,400 sq km of the prolific Lower Congo basin in water 1,500-2,500 m deep. BP is now operator of Blocks 18 and 31 and interest holder in a further six licenses here.

    Block 31 license interests are: operator BP Amoco 26.67%, Exxon unit Esso Exploration 25%, Sonangol 20%, Statoil AS 13.33%, Marathon Oil Co. 10%, and Elf 5%.

    A BP Amoco official told OGJ the company plans to begin acquiring 3D seismic data over the entire block this year, with a view to drilling a wildcat in 2001.

    The operator anticipates drilling a number of wells over a 4-year period, and has committed to spend more than $100 million on exploration off Angola. Prospectivity was said to be "consistent with nearby deepwater blocks."

    The BP Amoco official said Sonangol also announced test results for the Platina-1 wildcat that BP Amoco drilled on Block 18 in 1,400 m of water. The well flowed 6,500 b/d of oil on test, but "further work is necessary to evaluate the discovery."

    The well was drilled with the Ocean Alliance semisubmersible, which was moved across the block to drill the Plutonio-2 well, which will be only the second well on the block.

    In addition to its operatorship of Blocks 18 and 31, BP Amoco also holds interests in Blocks 15 (Exxon operator), 17 (Elf operator), 21 (BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. operator), and 5 (Sonangol operator).

    Elf was awarded Block 32, which lies west of Block 17, where it is developing the giant Girassol oil find and plans to develop the substantial Dalia, Rosa, and Lirio finds.

    Girassol is being developed with a concrete production barge and huge subsea complex and is due on stream in 2001 (OGJ, July 20, 1998, p. 42). Elf also produces 200,000 b/d from Block 3 in shallower water.

    Block 32 interest holders are: operator Elf 30%, Sonangol 20%, Prodev 20%, Exxon 15%, Marathon 10%, and Portuguese state firm Petrogal 5%.

    Meanwhile, Exxon was awarded the operatorship of Block 33, which lies southwest of Elf's major finds. Exxon also has major finds in Angola's deep water; on Block 15, the company made the Hungo, Kissanje, Marimba, and Dikanza oil finds.

    Copyright 1999 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.

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