By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 14 -- BP PLC and its partners made a fourth deepwater oil discovery on Block 31 off Angola, and the Venus discovery reinforces the commercial viability of the block's northeast section, said partner Marathon Oil Corp., Houston.
The Venus well is 175 km off the Angolan coast in 2,000 m of water depth. The well was drilled to 4,506 m and encountered three pay intervals. Block 31 covers 5,349 sq km in water 1,500-2,500 m deep (OGJ Online, Nov. 24, 3003).
Angola's state oil company Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol) is the concessionaire, and it awarded Block 31 operatorship to BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. in 1999 along with a 26.67% interest. Partners are Esso Exploration & Production Angola (Block 31) Ltd. 25%, Sonangol EP 20%, Statoil Angola ASA 13.33%, Marathon Petroleum Angola (Block 31) Ltd. 10%, and Total SA unit EPA (Block 31) Ltd. 5%.
