By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 27 -- Crediting new technology, Statoil ASA reported it will extend production from Lufeng field in the South China Sea until 2008, rather than shutting down last February as planned.
Statoil will keep the field on stream until August, when the Munin production ship moves to another assignment. While it is away, Statoil and its 25% partner, China National Offshore Oil Corp., will drill three sidetrack wells.
Lufeng currently produces about 6,000 b/d of oil. When the sidetracks are drilled, output should exceed 10,000 b/d.
More than 32 million bbl of oil have been recovered from the field to date, 7 million more than originally forecast.
