By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Jan. 15 -- Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said Tuesday it has begun oil production from Hassi Berkine field on Blocks 404 and 403 in Algeria's Sahara Desert nearly 2 months ahead of schedule.
The oil from the 75,000 b/d field will be processed through the third production train of the central processing facility at nearby Hassi Berkine South field. A gathering system, injection lines, crude oil storage, and export facilities have been installed as part of the facility expansion.
Hassi Berkine is on Block 403, operated by the Algerian national oil company Sonatrach and Agip (Algeria), and Block 404, operated by Sonatrach and Anadarko. Anadarko has 74.5% and Agip 25.5% of the unitized field.
John Seitz, Anadarko president and CEO, said, "Algeria represents a growing portion of Anadarko's global production over the next 2 years, as gross production capacity expands to more than 500,000 b/d."
Sonatrach, Anadarko, Agip, and Maersk Olie Algeriet AS of Denmark completed the first train at the central production facility in May 1998 and the second last September. The fourth 75,000 b/d train, due completion in August, will process oil from four Block 404 satellite fields.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' news agency said production from the field complex should increase Algeria's production by 285,000 b/d this year and next. It has 1 million b/d of capacity, which is expected to grow 50% by 2005.