TEXACO TESTS STRIKES OFF NORTHWEST ANGOLA

A group led by a unit of Texaco Inc. has tested three oil strikes off the northwest coast of Angola. Texaco Latin America/West Africa listed their combined flow at more than 10,000 b/d from five zones. All the discoveries are on Block 2, about 250 miles north of the capital city of Luanda. Block 2 is a 1 million acre tract held under a production sharing contract.

July 8, 1991

2 min read

A group led by a unit of Texaco Inc. has tested three oil strikes off the northwest coast of Angola.

Texaco Latin America/West Africa listed their combined flow at more than 10,000 b/d from five zones.

All the discoveries are on Block 2, about 250 miles north of the capital city of Luanda. Block 2 is a 1 million acre tract held under a production sharing contract.

The biggest flow came from 1 Espadarte, which yielded a combined rate of more than 4,362 b/d of 34.234.6 gravity oil from two Tertiary zones at 7,730-7,860 ft. It was drilled to 12,092 ft measured depth in 80 ft of water. The well is 10 miles offshore and 51/2 miles northwest of the 13,488 b/d 1 Bagre discovery of last year (OGJ, Apr. 9, 1990, p. 40). The Bagre reservoir is earmarked for a development program this year.

The Espardarte strike also is 10 miles southeast of Essungo oil field, placed on production in 1981.

The second wildcat, 1 Albacore, flowed more than 2,700 b/d of 36.8 gravity oil from a single Cretaceous Middle Pinda reservoir at 6,986-7,010 ft. It was drilled to 9,865 ft measured depth in 46 ft of water.

The well is 4.7 miles offshore and 4.6 miles southeast of 1 Bagre.

The latest discovery, 1 Chopa, flowed a combined rate of more than 2,954 b/d of 36-46.9 gravity oil from two Middle Pinda zones at 6,91 07,070 ft. It's bottomed at 7,300 ft measured depth in 36 ft of water.

Chopa is 101/2 miles north-northeast of 1 Bagre, 12.4 miles east-southeast of Essungo field, and 1.3 miles offshore.

Development potential of the discoveries is under study.

The Texaco combine acquired Block 2 via a contract signed with state owned Soc. Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol) in 1980.

Since then, the group has placed Essungo and Cuntala fields on production in the northern part of the block. In the far southern end of the block, about 30 miles south of 1 Bagre and 1 Albacore, production began late in 1987 from East Lombo, Tubarao, and South Sulele fields.

Current production on Block 2 is about 50,000 b/d.

Texaco holds a 20% interest in the block. Its partners are Total Angola and Petrobras International SA 27.5% each and Sonangol 25%.