Offshore staff
MILAN -- ENI and Sonangol have two new deepwater oil discoveries in Angola’s block 15/06.
The Nzanza-1 and Cinguvu-1 wells were drilled around 350 km (217 mi) northwest of Luanda in 1,400 m (4,593 ft) water depth. Both reached their designated targets in the Lower Miocene, encountering oil pay sands with good reservoir characteristics.
ENI adds that the results were in line with pre-drill expectations, and will allow the ongoing pre-development phase of the `Western Hub’ project to proceed.
During tests, Nzanza-1 produced oil at rates above 1,600 b/d. Flow analysis indicates potential for future producer wells on the field of over 5,000 b/d per well, supported by artificial lift. At Cinguvu-1 the production test, limited by surface facilities, achieved a maximum flow of 6,400 b/d
ENI was awarded block 15/06 in 2006. It achieved previous oil discoveries with the Cabaça Norte-1 well in 2009 and on the Sangos and N’Goma prospects in 2008. The company says it has applied proprietary technologies to improve the probability of success and to optimize time and costs in well operations.
Exploration drilling will continue on the block this year with the aim of proving sufficient resources to warrant a second production hub in the northeastern part of the concession.
The other partners in block 15/6 are Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção (15%), SSI Fifteen Limited (20%), Total (15%), Falcon Oil Holding Angola SA (5%), Petrobras International Braspetro B.V. (5%) and Statoil Angola Block 15/06 Award AS (5%).
4/7/2010
