Sanha condensate flow starts off Angola

March 2, 2005
ChevronTexaco Corp.'s Angolan subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd. has started condensate production from Sanha field on the Block 0 concession off Malongo, Cabinda province, Angola.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Mar. 1 -- ChevronTexaco Corp.'s Angolan subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd. has started condensate production from Sanha field on the Block 0 concession off Malongo, Cabinda province, Angola.

The Sanha condensate complex, 23 miles offshore and directly above Sanha field, serves as a natural gas processing hub for surrounding production facilities. Sanha field wells, predrilled in early 2004 along with those from neighboring fields, are now producing 6,000 b/d of condensate.

Dry gas is reinjected to maintain reservoir pressure and for storage ahead of eventual delivery to the proposed Angola LNG facility. The complex is capable of reinjecting 500 MMcfd of produced gas. The reinjection also reduces gas flaring on Block 0.

Combined production from the Sanha project, which includes crude oil from nearby Bomboco field, is expected to reach its average annual peak of 100,000 b/d of oil, condensate, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 2007.

LPG production is scheduled to commence early in the second quarter when a 32,000 b/d floating production, storage, and offloading vessel will be fully operational.

Cabinda, holding a 39.2% interest, is operator of Block 0 on behalf of partners Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol), 41%; Total SA, 10%, and Eni Angola Exploration BV 9.8%.