ExxonMobil discovered hydrocarbons in Block 15, about 365 km northwest off the coast of Luanda, Angola, in 1,100 m of water.
Bavuca South-1, part of the Angola Block 15 redevelopment project, marks the eighteenth discovery in the block and the first in nearly 20 years, the company said in a release Nov. 7. The exploration well, drilled by the Valaris DS-9 rig, encountered 30 m of high-quality, hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone.
The redevelopment project is expected to deliver around 40,000 b/d of oil (OGJ Online, June 15, 2019).
There have been 17 previous discoveries on Block 15: Hungo, Kissanje, Marimba, and Dikanza in 1998; Chocalho and Xikomba in 1999; Mondo, Saxi, and Batuque in 2000; Mbulumbumba, Vicango, and Mavacola in 2001; Reco Reco in 2002; and Clochas, Kakocha, Tchihumba, and Bavuca in 2003 (OGJ Online, June 5, 2000; Dec. 1, 2000; June 4, 2001).
ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Ltd. is operator of Block 15 (36%) with partners BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. (24%), ENI Angola Exploration BV (18%), Equinor Angola Block 15 AS (12%), and Sonangol P&P (10%). The National Agency for Petroleum, Gasand Biofuels (ANPG) is the Block 15 Concessionaire. In March, bp PLC and Eni SPA agreed to form a new 50-50 independent company, Azule Energy, through the combination of the two companies’ Angolan businesses (OGJ Online, Mar. 11, 2022).
