Exploration and development are poised to accelerate off the Republic of Congo.
Elf Congo, a unit of France's Elf Aquitaine SA, increased its holdings there with the award of an exploration license for the Mer Tres Profonde Sud block, one of the last available permits for deepwater exploration off the Republic of Congo.
The 5,070 sq km permit area lies in 2,000-3,000 m of water, adjacent to Mer Profonde Sud, which was an extension of Haute Mer block, both operated by Elf.
The newest license is linked to a production-sharing contract with the Republic of Congo, into which Elf intends to bring in other partners.
Elf plans
Elf plans two wells on the adjacent Mer Profonde Sud block, with the first to be drilled in first quarter 1998.
Elf Congo holds a 40% stake in this permit area; units of Royal Dutch/ Shell Group and Exxon Corp. hold 30% each.
Elf Congo also is a participant in Mer Profonde Nord, operated by 40% shareholder Exxon; Elf Congo and Shell hold 30% each.
Plans call for 400 km of 3D seismic before drilling one well on Mer Profonde Nord during the next 2 years.
Agip drilling
In other activity off the Republic of Congo, Italy's Agip SpA drilled its fourth well in a new field, Djambala, discovered late last year. The company plans rapid development.
Production is set to begin in August under a simplified plan that includes two subsea wells. The oil will be transported about 11 km by pipeline to a platform in Kitina oil field, currently under development by Agip.
Djambala output is slated to begin at 4,000 b/d and last about 10 years. Operator Agip holds a 52% interest, along with state oil company Hydrocongo 35% and South Africa's Sasol Petroleum International (Pty.) Ltd. 13%.
Sasol started its involvement off the Republic of Congo last year, when it acquired farmouts on two exploration licenses Agip operates, Marine VI and Marine X, with 26% and 10% interests, respectively (OGJ, Sept. 16, 1996, p. 24).
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