ExxonMobil strikes more oil in deepwater Block 15 off Angola

March 2, 2004
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.

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.