Oil flow starts at Sudan's Thar Jath field

June 29, 2006
Malaysia's Petronas started crude oil production from its Thar Jath Block 5A field in Sudan's Muglad basin, 900 km south of Khartoum.

Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, June 29 -- Malaysia's Petronas started crude oil production from its Thar Jath Block 5A field in Sudan's Muglad basin, 900 km south of Khartoum.

Petronas said the current rate of production at Thar Jath is expected to stabilize at 20,000 b/d, before rising to 60,000 b/d by yearend. It said the partners eventually plan to increase the capacity to 150,000 b/d.

The oil will be treated at a new central processing facility and transported via a new 172-km pipeline to an existing pump station in Heglig before being sent on to Port Sudan through the 1,542-km pipeline of the Greater Nile Oil Project.

First oil from Thar Jath is expected to reach Port Sudan for commercial lifting in August, Petronas said. It said the new oil from Block 5A will enhance Sudan's crude production, which currently stands at an average of 255,000 b/d.

Thar Jath is operated by White Nile (5B) Operating Co. Ltd., which is a partnership of Petronas 68.875%, India's ONGC Videsh Ltd. 24.125%, and Sudan's Sudapet 8%.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].