Offshore staff
LONDON – Afren and its partners have secured approval for their plan to develop the Aje field offshore Nigeria.
The Nigerian Department of Petroleum Resources has sanctioned development of the Cenomanian oil reservoir with a first phase based on two subsea production wells tied back to a leased FPSO. These wells will probably comprise a recompletion of the existing Aje-4 well and a new well drilled close to the Aje-2 subsurface location.
The partners are expected to make a final investment decision soon. First oil should flow in late 2015. Mid-case reserves are 32.4 MMbbl, and analysis of new 3D seismic across the OPL 310 and OML113 leases could lead to identification of further prospects.
At theEbok field, oil production has been averaging 29,300 b/d. This spring the partners began drilling four additional North Fault Block wells from the West Fault Block (WFB) platform, comprising three producers and one dual-zone water injector. The program is expected to be completed this year.
Production will flow through the existing mobile offshore platform unit. The Central Fault Block (CFB) Extension platform is due to be installed soon followed by the start of development drilling, targeting additional reservoirs in the CFB. Three producers should be onstream by year-end.
In addition, the partners expect to spud the Ebok deep exploration tail from the West Fault Block (WFB) platform in 4Q to test deeper Qua Iboe and Biafra targets below the producing reservoirs. The exploration tail will target resources of 50 MMbbl.
Among Afren’s other interests in the region is the shallow-water Okwok field, where reserves are estimated at 46.6 MMbbl. The development plan calls for installation of a dedicated production facility and wellhead platform with an export pipeline for stabilized crude oil tied back to, and sharing, the Ebok FSO, 13 km (8 mi) to the west.
This year the partners are finalizing detailed reservoir models and detailed development well planning/optimization. The wellhead jacket has been fabricated and is in the Okwok field awaiting installation. This will be followed by the start of development drilling.
Once an ocean-bottom cable 3D seismic has been completed over the entire Ebok/Okwok/OML 115 area, Afren and partner Oriental will spud the Ameena East exploration well targeting resources of 65 MMbbl. They are pursuing additional leads via new seismic and advanced reprocessing projects.
Afren expects front-end engineering and design for theOkoro Further Field development to conclude soon and to secure project sanction. The wellhead platform will likely be installed during 2Q 2015 followed again by development drilling.
09/02/2014
