Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Dec. 15 -- Oil production from Dalia field off Angola started Dec. 15 and will reach 250,000 b/d by next summer, field operator Total SA reported.
Dalia field, which lies on deepwater Block 17, 135 km offshore in 1,200-1,500 m of water, holds 1 billion bbl of recoverable oil (see map, OGJ, Feb. 14, 2005, p. 24). Thirty-seven wells are producing oil from the field, all of which are tied in to nine manifolds. The field has 3 gas-injection and 31 water-injection wells.
The subsea installation consists of 40-km of insulated flowlines linked to eight flexible risers specifically manufactured for the project. The risers take fluids to a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel. The FPSO can store 2 million bbl of oil.
According to Total, Dalia is the largest deepwater development to be brought on stream in 2006 and among the largest projects of its kind in the world.
Block 17 comprises four major zones: Girassol and Dalia, both on production; Pazflor, which is in the final bidding process before sanction; and CLOV, a fourth major production area, based on Cravo, Lirio, Orquidea, and Violeta discoveries, which are currently being studied.
Total holds 40% interest in Block 17. Partners are Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Ltd. 20%, BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. 16.67%; Statoil Angola Block 17 AS 13.33%, and Norsk Hydro Dezassete AS 10%.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
