Offshore staff
STOCKHOLM, Sweden – The Noble-operated Alen field development in block I offshore Equatorial Guinea is nearing completion. Fabrication is completed, all modules have been transported and installed, and hook-up activities are under way. First production is due this summer, with the total cost estimated to be below the sanctioned budget.
Elsewhere on block I, last month an exploration well was spudded on theCarla South prospect on a trend proven by the 2011 block O Carla North discovery. The well, due to take about 25 days to reach total depth, targets tertiary sandstone, with plans for a subsequent side track of similar duration.
Later this year an appraisal well will be drilled on the Diega accumulation.
Oil production from theAseng field offshore Equatorial Guinea has been at peak levels longer than expected, according to partner PA Resources (PAR).
Early this month output slipped from the previous average of 60 MMb/d, partly due to restrictions on the gas handling capacity. Operator Noble Energy and the partners are assessing the scope for increasing this capacity, which could help increase oil production.
Offshore Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), PAR is a partner in the Murphy-operatedAzurite field. Production has been impacted by intermittent well instability, leading to temporary outages on the multi-phase pump used to lift fluids to the production vessel. This instability will probably continue for the time being – Murphy continues to assess future solutions for the field.
In Danish North Sea license 12/06, PAR is seeking a rig to appraise its Lille John discovery. Studies continue to evaluate development options for theBroder Tuck field, with the focus on two main development concepts.
PAR will progress commercial discussions with pipeline owners in the area and a potential host infrastructure owner. Around year-end the company hopes to take a decision either on appraisal drilling or on advancing to detailed engineering design for field development.
In the UK North Sea, the company is still waiting for formal award from the government of a license over block 22/19a. This contains the undeveloped Fiddich gas/condensate field, discovered in 1984. Studies have started on prospects for appraisal drilling. If the award is confirmed, PA Resources expects to hold a 100% interest.
In the German North Sea, PAR continues evaluation of a 3D seismic dataset over license B20008/73.
4/24/2013
