Offshore staff
VANCOUVER, Canada — CNOOC plans to drill up to 11 wells on the deepwater Akpo Field offshore Nigeria, according to Africa Oil’s first-quarter results statement.
Akpo, originally developed by TotalEnergies, is in the OML 130 lease. Africa Oil has a 50% stake in Nigerian independent Prime, one of the partners.
Last year’s Akpo-P4 infill well has ramped up production to 6,000 bbl/d, which is encouraging for the upcoming drilling program, according to Africa Oil.
CNOOC is finalizing an extendable one-year rig contract with a view to drill up to nine development wells and up to two near-field exploration/appraisal wells, with the program set to start at the end of the third quarter.
Processing continues of last year’s 4D survey over the deepwater Egina Field, operated by TotalEnergies, to finalize locations for new wells. Africa Oil expects up to three further development wells to be completed by the end of this year, followed by further infill drilling or near-field exploration/appraisal.
The rig will move to Akpo on completion of the Egina drilling campaign.
Via its 30.9% shareholding in Impact Oil & Gas, Africa Oil also has an indirect interest of 6.2% in Block 2913B in the Orange Basin offshore Namibia, the setting for the Venus light oil and associated gas discovery announced by TotalEnergies in February.
Appraisal drilling should get underway later this year.
