A group led by Lasmo plc, London, has signed agreements to explore three blocks in Libya.
Meantime, Libya is pressing a campaign to develop and utilize more domestic gas reserves with gas processing and pipeline projects.
EXPLORATION DEAL
Lasmo's exploration deal, in 50-50 partnership with a group of South Korean companies, covers two offshore blocks and one onshore block. Area NC173 involves the 7,602.68 sq km Block 1 and 16,030 sq km Block 2 in the Gulf of Sirte portion of the Sirte basin. Area NC1 74 covers 11,310 sq km in the onshore Murzuk basin.
Lasmo expects to start seismic surveys next year. In its first 5 year program the Lasmo group is committed to drill seven wells, four of them on the onshore block.
State companies from Romania and Bulgaria have made several significant discoveries in blocks adjoining the Lasmo acreage.
Detailed plans are under consideration for a 250 mile crude oil pipeline from the Romanian discovery into the pipeline transmission system.
Industry sources say Romania's Rompetrol has tapped a 2 billion bbl oil resource in the area. An initial development phase would produce about 75,000 b/d of light, low sulfur crude, with start-up set for 1993. Production is expected to rise ultimately to about 150,000 b/d.
The South Korean group is led by state owned Korean Petroleum Development Corp. and includes Daewoo, Hyundai, Majuko, and Daesung.
GAS PROJECTS
Libya has commissioned a new gas processing plant in Sahl gas field in the Sirte basin. Sahl produces 150 MMcfd of gas and 4,000 b/d of condensate from 15 wells.
Field output moves through a 30 in. gas pipeline that links Zelten field with the LNG plant and petrochemical complex at Marsa al-Brega.
State owned Sirte Oil Co. also is proceeding with plans to link Zueitina 103-D field and Bu Attifel field to the Sahl gas plant with a pipeline by yearend 1991. The project will tie in another 600 MMcfd of associated gas supply to the plant.
Meantime, plans are advancing for development of Tahaddi field, at 9 tcf Libya's biggest dry gas reservoir.
The project's first stage calls for a 36 in. pipeline from Tahaddi to Marsa al-Brega. Initial throughput would be 250-300 MMcfd.
Additional volumes of gas will require new outlets. Libya's state owned National Oil Corp. plans a spur from the 400 mile, 34 in. coastal pipeline from Marsa al-Brega to Khoms, which started up a year ago.
Yugoslavia's Razvoj i Inzinjering will undertake a feasibility study for a 150 mile extension of the coastal line to Bukammash near the Tunisian border.
Copyright 1990 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.