Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, July 20 -- Total SA subsidiary Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd., operator of Ofon oil and gas field off Nigeria, said it will raise the field's production to 100,000 b/d of oil from 60,000 b/d by yearend 2010 (OGJ, Jan. 15, 2007, p. 43).
Phase two of the project will involve adding three drilling platforms, a processing platform, and a crew platform accommodating more than 120 people. The new central complex is expected to come on stream in 2010, with development drilling following.
Additional proved and probable reserves to be developed during this phase are estimated at more than 350 million boe. The field, which lies in 40 m of water, is about 50 km off eastern Nigeria on OML 102. Elf will work with Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.
Gas flaring will cease under the second phase, which will contribute to Nigeria's 2008 "zero gas flaring" target. Gas will be directed to Nigeria's gas liquefaction plant (NLNG), and all produced water will be reinjected into the reservoir.
Total has a 17% interest in NLNG. Operation of the sixth train at the complex will start at yearend.
First oil from Ofon was produced in December 1997. Other plans under way—for OML 130—are development of Akpo gas-condensate field, which Total operates, and the Egina oil discovery 20 km from Akpo. Akpo will start producing 225,000 boe/d in late 2008, of which nearly 80% will be condensate. Total is appraising the Egina discovery, which will be developed separately.
Five wells have been drilled on Egina since December 2003. The Egina-5 well was tested to assess its production potential, which could reach about 12,000 b/d of oil. The Egina-3, Egina-4, and Egina-5 wells encountered 60-80 m of oil in Miocene sands and were drilled in waters 1,500 m deep (OGJ, Feb. 26, 2007, Newsletter).
According to reports from Nigeria, Total has committed to spending $7.5 billion in Nigeria's upstream over the next 5 years.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
