Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Oct 21 – Angola's Sonangol and BP PLC reported the ninth oil discovery on deepwater Block 31 off Angola.
The Hebe-1 flowed on test at a maximum rate of 5,956 b/d of oil through a 2-in. choke.
The GlobalSantaFe Jack Ryan drillship drilled the Hebe-1 to 4,823 m below sea level TD in 2,008 m of water 361 km northwest of Luanda.
Hebe-1 is 16 km southwest of the Ceres discovery reported earlier in the year (OGJ, Apr. 11, 2005, Newsletter). Other previous discoveries on the block are Plutão, Saturno, Marte, Venus, Palas, Juno, and Astraea (OGJ, Aug. 22, 2005, Newsletter).
BP said it is evaluating development concepts for the southeastern region of the block.
Sonangol is the concessionaire of Block 31 where BP, operator, holds 26.67%. Other interests are Esso E&P Angola (Block 31) Ltd. 25%, Sonangol EP 20%, Statoil Angola AS 13.33%, Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Ltd. 10%, and Total SA subsidiary TEPA (Block 31) Ltd. 5%.
Angola will offer seven blocks in three basins in a licensing round opening Dec. 13 (OGJ Online, Oct. 20, 2005).
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
