By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 2 -- ExxonMobil Corp. unit Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Ltd., operator of Block 15 off Angola, has made the 17th oil strike on the block, with the Bavuca-1 well.
The well was drilled in 1,094 m of water to 3,235 m TD, and flowed 2,726 b/d of 17-18° gravity oil during a production test.
Esso estimates that the block, which lies about 350 km northwest of Angola's capital Luanda, has oil reserves of 4.5 billion bbl.
Esso holds a 40% interest in Block 15. Partners are BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. 26.67%, Agip Angola Exploration BV 20%, and Statoil Angola 13.33%. Sonangol is concessionaire.
Esso and Sonangol have previously announced 16 Block 15 discoveries with Hungo, Kissanje, Marimba, and Dikanza in 1998; Chocalho and Xikomba in 1999; Mondo, Saxi, and Batuque in 2000; Mbulumbumba, Vicango, and Mavacola in 2001; Reco Reco in 2002; and Clochas, Kakocha, and Tchihumba in 2003.
Kakocha and Tchihumba were the fifteenth and sixteenth deepwater oil finds made on Block 15 by the partners.
Kakocha-1 was drilled in 1,030 m of water to 2,786 m TD and tested at 4,500 b/d of oil, while Tchihumba-1 was drilled in 1,190 m of water to 4,171 m TD. The discovery well tested at 7,470 b/d of oil.
ExxonMobil said it is using the "design one, build two" method in developing these deepwater fields to minimize costs.