Vaalco Energy Inc. has completed workover operations and replaced an electrical submersible pump (ESP) on the Avouma 2H well offshore Gabon on Block P. The well is producing at higher rates than before it was shut down.
A floating production, storage, and offloading vessel is used for production on the Etame Marin block, which includes Southeast Etame and North Tchibala fields.
Cary Bounds, Vaalco chief executive officer, said the company also is considering development drilling offshore Gabon in 2019. Earlier this year, Vaalco of Houston paid off its debt.
Vaalco expects Avouma 2H well production will stabilize at about 2,000 b/d gross or 540 b/d net. Workover operations began on the Avouma platform on May 17 to replace ESPs in the Avouma 2-H and South Tchibala 1-HB wells.
Executives estimate net production of 750 b/d could be restored if both workovers are successful. In addition, Vaalco started a third workover to upgrade the ESP in the South Tchibala 2H well while the hydraulic workover unit remains on the platform.
Executives seek to mitigate the potential for premature ESP failure through design enhancements to extend pump life. The primary ESP initially failed in the Avouma 2-H well 2 years ago (OGJ Online, Aug. 31, 2016).
Vaalco has exploration, development, and production activities primarily in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
