Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Oct. 23 -- BP Exploration (Angola) PLC and state-owned Sonangol have discovered oil for the 11th time in ultradeepwater Block 31 off Angola.
The GlobalSantaFe Corp. Jack Ryan drillship drilled the Titania well in 2,152 m of water 23 km northwest of the Hebe oil discovery, announced in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Titania reached a TD of 5,339 m below sea level, penetrating Oligo-Miocene sands. It's Block 31's second subsalt discovery.
Titania flowed on test at the rate of 2,045 b/d through a 20/64-in. choke.
A BP spokesman told OGJ that a front-end engineering and design contract might be let by yearend for development of Block 31's first four discoveries, which are in the northeast part. "We don't know when production would begin," he added.
The other seven discoveries, including Titania, are in the southeast part of the block. BP is considering development options.
Block 31 covers 5,349 sq km and lies in 1,500-2,500 m of water.
BP is the operator with a 26.67% interest. Other interests are Sonangol 20%, Esso Exploration & Production Angola (Block 31) Ltd. 25%, Statoil Angola AS 13.33%, Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Ltd. 10%, and TEPA (BLOCK 31) Ltd., a subsidiary of Total SA, 5%.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
