Total begins full-field production on Kaombo with second FPSO

Total SA has started production on Kaombo Sul, the second floating production, storage, and offloading vessel of the Kaombo oil development offshore Angola. Operated by Total E&P Angola, the project lies on Block 32 in 1,400-2,000 m of water about 260 km offshore Luanda.

Kaombo Sul will add 115,000 b/d of oil to Kaombo Norte, the first FPSO brought on stream in July 2018 (OGJ Online, July 27, 2018). Total production is expected to reach 230,000 b/d at peak, equivalent to about 15% of the country’s production. Associated gas will be exported to the Angola LNG plant.

A total of 59 wells—more than 60% already drilled—will be connected to the two FPSOs, which were converted from very large crude carriers to develop the resources of Gengibre, Gindungo, Caril, Canela, Mostarda, and Louro over an 800-sq-km area in the central and southern part of the block.

Gengibre, Gindungo, and Caril were connected to the Kaombo Norte FPSO, while Mostarda, Canela, and Louro, have now been connected to Kaombo Sul.

Total operates Block 32 with 30% participating interest, along with Sonangol P&P 30%, Sonangol Sinopec International 32 Ltd. 20%, Esso Exploration & Production Angola (Overseas) Ltd. 15%, and Galp Energia Overseas Block 32 BV 5%.

In addition to the Block 32, Total operates Block 17 (40%) in Angola where investment decisions were taken in 2018 to launch three new satellite projects: Zinia 2, Clov 2, and Dalia 3 (OGJ Online, Nov. 12, 2018).

Total is a partner in Blocks 0 (10%), 14 (20%), 14K (36.75%) and 16/06 (65%), as well as in Angola LNG (13.6%), and in different exploration licenses. In 2018, the Group signed a risk service agreement with Sonangol for the deepwater Block 48 exploration license, which Total will operate (OGJ Online, May, 29, 2018).