BW Energy advances Maromba field development, acquires FPSO

BW Energy Co. will proceed with the Maromba development project, offshore Brazil, and has agreed to purchase the Polvo FPSO from BW Offshore Ltd. for $50 million.

Maromba development is based on an initial drilling campaign of three wells with planned first oil in 2025 and a second campaign with a further three wells in 2027. Total oil production at peak is expected between 30-40,000 b/d.

Staged development enables improved reservoir monitoring and optimization of the second drilling campaign, the company said. The technical evaluation revealed that water injection is not required for the first three wells and is a contingency for the second drilling campaign. Extensive work has also confirmed that dual electric submersible pumps offer the best artificial lift solution with extended life and reduced workover frequency. The subsea layout has also been enhanced to reduce costs and facilitate future expansions, the company continued.

The FPSO recently ended its charter on Polvo field and will be upgraded and redeployed at Maromba. An assessment of refurbishment costs has been completed and discussions with relevant shipyards are under way. The FPSO will be designed for up to 10 production wells with 1.2 million bbl storage capacity. The total liquid capacity will be 85,000 b/d with oil production capacity of 65,000 b/d and water treatment capacity of 75,000 b/d.

Maromba is in Campos basin in about 160 m of water. Nine wells were drilled in the license between 1980 and 2006, and oil was found in eight of these across various reservoirs. Gross 2C reserves in place are estimated at 467 million bbl with about 100 million bbl estimated as recoverable volumes.

BW Energy is operator at Maromba with 100% ownership.