Exxon has potential world-class deepwater oil field off Angola
Exxon Corp.'s Angolan unit, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Ltd. has made a third oil discovery on Block 15 off Angola that may help comprise a new world-class oil field.
Exxon's most recent Block 15 discovery, Hungo, flowed on test a combined 15,900 b/d from four oil-bearing reservoirs.
The Hungo well was drilled in 3,947 ft of water and reached 10,240 ft TD.
In March, its Kissanje discovery flowed 10,000 b/d on test (OGJ, Mar. 23, 1998, p. 34), and the subsequent Marimba find flowed 6,800 b/d of oil (OGJ, Apr. 13, 1998, p. 38).
Marimba lies about 7 km southwest of Hungo, and Kissanje is about 12 km southeast of Hungo. All three wells are about 360 km west of Luanda.
Exxon Chairman Lee R. Raymond said, "We now have three discoveries on Block 15 that, combined, should make up a world-class development opportunity, with a recoverable reserves potential on the order of 1 billion boe."
Houston-based Exxon Exploration Co. will coordinate appraisal work on behalf of the Angolan affiliate. If Exxon deems Block 15 commercial, it will be assigned to newly formed unit Exxon Upstream Development Co., also based in Houston. Exxon Upstream will integrate development planning, project execution, development drilling, and implementation of operations on the block.
Interests in Block 15 are: operator Esso 40%, BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. 26.67%, Agip Angola Ltd. 20%, and Statoil 13.33%.
Exxon affiliates have, to date, participated in seven key deepwater discoveries off West Africa. These include Girassol, Dalia, and Rosa, on Block 17 off Angola (see story, this page), and Bonga on Block 212 off Nigeria.
Exxon claims to be the largest multinational deepwater acreage holder off West Africa.
"Upon completion of the final negotiations on blocks in which participation has been awarded to Exxon affiliates," said the firm, "Exxon will have interests in 16 high-potential deepwater blocks off Angola, Republic of Congo, and Nigeria, totaling nearly 12 million gross acres."
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