By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 5 -- Sonangol EP and BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd., operator, have reported the Portia oil discovery on ultradeepwater Block 31, off Angola. Well test results confirmed the capacity of the reservoir to flow more than 5,000 b/d under production conditions, BP said.
The well lies 7 km north of the Titania discovery and 10.5 km southwest of Plutao field. Portia is the 15th discovery BP has drilled on Block 31.
Portia was drilled in 2,012 m of water 386 km northwest of Luanda. It reached 5,678 m TVD subsea. This is the fourth discovery on Block 31 in which the exploration well was drilled through salt to access an oil-bearing sandstone reservoir beneath.
Although oil deposits are commonly associated with salt, salt distorts seismic images, so salt-affected areas require additional seismic processing and interpretation prior to drilling.
Sonangol is the concessionaire of Block 31, which covers 5,349 sq km and lies in 1,500-2,500 m of water. BP holds 26.67%. Other interest owners are Esso Exploration & Production Angola (Block 31) Ltd. 25%, Sonangol 20%, Statoil Angola AS 13.33%, Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Ltd. 10%, and Total Group subsidiary Tepa Block 31 Ltd. 5%.