Curtis Williams
OGJ correspondent
PORT OF SPAIN, Jan. 13 -- BHP Billiton Ltd., Melbourne, and its partners have begun production from Angostura oil field on Block 2C about 38.5 km off eastern Trinidad and Tobago in water 40 m deep.
Oil production began Jan. 9, preceded by first gas production on Dec. 16. Initial oil production is expected to be about 60,000 b/d of oil (gross), significantly less than the originally predicted 100,000 b/d.
Start-up of Angostura represents the first oil production off northeastern Trinidad and the first from Oligocene rocks in Trinidad and Tobago. BHP has made another hydrocarbon discovery on a nearby block.
Angostura gas is being reinjected to support oil production, with a portion being used to fuel operations on the platform. In the second phase of the project, Angostura's significant gas resources will be produced for sale.
Angostura field has a central processing platform (CPP) with three satellite wellhead protector platforms. A subsea pipeline connects the CPP to new storage facilities onshore at Guayaguayare, where an export pipeline has been installed to allow offloading to tankers in Guayaguayare Bay.
BHP Billiton, holding 45% equity interest, is operator. Other partners in the development are Total SA, 30%, and Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary, 25%.
