By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 11 -- Exxon Mobil Corp. subsidiary Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Ltd., began field production Aug. 7 from the $3.4 billion Kizomba A project off Angola. Estimated recoverable resources from Kizomba A total 1 billion bbl of oil.
Kizomba A, 370 km northwest of Angola's capital Luanda, will develop the Hungo and Chocalho discoveries in water 1,000-1,280 m deep.
Esso expects to achieve a production rate of 250,000 b/d, producing from a tension leg platform tied to a floating production, storage, and offloading system having a 2.2 million bbl storage capacity.
Kizomba A is the second of three developments in Block 15 that are expected to cost a total of $10 billion. Xikomba came on stream last November (OGJ Online, Dec. 9, 2003), while Kizomba B, which will develop the Kissanje and Dikanza discoveries, will come on stream in early 2006. Planning and design for the Kizomba C project also are under way. Collectively they are intended to develop more than 2.5 billion bbl of oil.
ExxonMobil and its coventurers have announced 17 discoveries on Block 15, which has the potential to recover about 4.5 billion boe (gross).
Block 15 participants are operator Esso 40%, BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. 26.67%, ENI Angola Exploration BV 20%, and Statoil Angola 13.33%. Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol EP), the national oil company of Angola, is the concessionaire.
