By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 28 -- Angola's state-owned oil firm Sonangol EP and BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. Monday reported making an oil discovery in the ultradeepwater Block 31 off Angola. The Saturno oil discovery is the third exploration well BP has drilled on the block and the second successful discovery following the discovery of Plutão field in the third quarter 2002 (OGJ Online, Sept. 18, 2002).
Saturno-1 was drilled by the Leiv Eiriksson semisubmersible rig in 1,804 m of water some 170 km off Angola. The well, which reached 4,707 m TD, is some 14 km northeast of the Plutão discovery well. On test, Saturno flowed 5,000 b/d of oil but will require further work to evaluate the full extent of its production capability.
Block 31 covers 5,349 sq km and lies in 1,500-2,500 m of water.
BP serves as block operator and holds 26.67% equity stake along with partners ExxonMobil Corp. unit Esso Exploration & Production Angola (Block 31) Ltd. 25%, Sonangol 20%, Statoil Angola AS 13.33%, Marathon Petroleum Angola Block 31 Ltd. 10%, and TotalFinaElf SA unit EPA (Block 31) Ltd. 5%.