Eni SPA has started production from Nene Marine field, 17 km offshore Congo (Brazzaville) in 28 m of water on the Marine XII block.
The milestone comes 8 months after the company received the production permit and 16 months following the discovery (OGJ Online, Aug. 1, 2013).
Nene Marine is near existing plants and produces from the Djeno presalt formation 2.5 km below the ground. Development of the field will occur in several stages, which include the installation of production platforms and the drilling of more than 30 wells, Eni says.
The first phase of production totals 7,500 boe/d, which is sent for treatment on the Eni-operated Zatchi production platform via a subsea pipeline over 17 km.
Production is expected to plateau at 140,000 boe/d. During the production test, the Nene Marine 3 well flowed more than 5,000 b/d of 36° gravity oil.
Last month, the Minsala Marine 1 well, also part of Marine XII, flowed 5,000 b/d of 41° gravity oil and 14 MMscfd of gas (OGJ Online, Dec. 15, 2014).
The company in recent years has discovered 3.5 billion boe in the Congolese Marine XII block, of which 1.5 billion Eni attributes to Nene Marine field. New developments are currently under further delineation activities.
Eni operates Marine XII with 65% interest through subsidiary Eni Congo SA. Partners are New Age 25% and Societe Nationale des Petroles du Congo 10%.