A unit of ExxonMobil Corp. has made a deepwater oil discovery, its seventh oil find on Block 15 off Angola. The discovery, dubbed Mondo, lies about 230 miles northwest of Luanda.
The discovery well cut an oil-bearing reservoir that flowed 4,200 b/d of oil on test. The well was drilled in 2,400 ft of water to 8,200 ft TD.
State firm Sonangol is concessionaire of the block. Operator Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Ltd. holds a 40% interest; BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd., 26.67%; Agip Angola Exploration BV, 20%; and Statoil AS, 13.33%.
Esso Exploration Angola and Sonangol have announced six Block 15 discoveries during the past 2 years: Hungo, Kissanje, Marimba, and Dikanza in 1998; and Chocalho and Xicomba in 1999. Four of these discoveries�Hungo, Chocalho, Kissange, and Dikanza�make up the giant Kizomba fields complex.
"Block 15 represents a world-class development opportunity, with recoverable reserves potential in excess of 2 billion oil-equivalent barrels," said ExxonMobil. Agip Angola parent company ENI SPA says the Kizomba complex alone, for which development plans are being finalized, holds recoverable reserves "approaching 2 billion bbl of oil."