Total said production has started from Usan oil field 100 km offshore southeastern Nigeria (OGJ Online, Dec. 9, 2009).
Development of the field, in 750-850 m of water, involves 42 wells connected to a spread-moored floating production, storage, and offloading vessel by a 70-km long subsea network.
The FPSO can process 180,000 b/d of oil and has storage capacity of 2 million bbl of crude oil.
Its 320 m length and 61 m width makes the FPSO one of the largest vessels of its type in the world, Total said.
Total’s wholly owned subsidiary Total E&P Nigeria Ltd. operates the block, OML 138, with a 20% interest. Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. holds the concession. Total’s partners are Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. and Esso E&P Nigeria (Offshore East) Ltd., 30% each, and Nexen Petroleum Nigerial Ltd., 20%.
