This month, Infield Systems looks at the trend of West African Subsea Wells coming onstream over a 10-year period (2001 to 2011). Unsurprisingly, Angola dominates the early picture with 74% of subsea wells onstream in 2001. This was due to the startup of the first of the large projects, Girassol (block 17), and the slower pace of activity in the rest of West Africa.
West African subsea wells onstream 2001-2011
The striking trends in West Africa over this period are threefold: Firstly, the 317% increase in subsea wells coming onstream in the region from 2004 to 2008; Secondly, the overall domination of Angola and Nigeria over the rest of the West African region; Lastly, the noticeable lack of Nigerian subsea wells coming onstream up to 2004 and subsequent explosion of activity in 2005/2006. In 2003, Nigeria represented only 12% of subsea wells coming onstream. By 2005, this had risen to 47% overtaking Angola (35%).
The reason for this trend was severe development delays at Bonga (OML 212), which eventually came onstream in December 2005, followed in quick succession by Erha (OPL 209) in April 2006. These project delays explain the strength of the 2005 and 2006 Nigerian figures.
We expect the strong growth trend in this region to continue with key developments such as Total’s continued development of Angola block 17, BP’s block 18 and 31 developments, and ExxonMobil’s Kizomba C & D projects as well as Chevron’s Agbami, Total’s Akpo and Usan, and ExxonMobil’s Bosi offshore Nigeria.
-Ojus Palathingal, research analyst, Infield
