Total finds oil near Ofon field off Nigeria

Dec. 29, 2008
France's Total SA discovered oil in shallow water near its producing Ofon oil field in southeastern OML 102 off southeastern Nigeria.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 29 -- France's Total SA discovered oil in shallow water near its producing Ofon oil field in southeastern OML 102 off southeastern Nigeria.

The Etisong-1 well went to TD 2,207 m in 70 m of water and tested more than 6,000 b/d of 40° gravity oil from turbiditic reservoirs.

The well is the first step in an exploration and appraisal program designed to demonstrate the feasibility of a new development pole on OML 102 that would combine production from the Etisong main discovery and as yet undrilled surrounding structures.

Total E&P Nigeria operates OML 102 with 40% interest, and Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. has 60%.

Total E&P Nigeria, already a large oil producer in Nigeria, plans to start production from Akpo deepwater oil field on OML 130 in early 2009. The company is undertaking development studies for Egina oil field on the same block.