Gene Kliewer • Houston
Angola subsea boom continues
A number of significant subsea development projects offshore Angola are in the news recently. ExxonMobil at Kizomba and Total at Pazflor represent both ends of the spectrum. Kizomba started production and hardware contracts were let for Pazflor.
Exxon Mobil Corp. subsidiary Esso Exploration Angola (block 15) Ltd. saw first production from Kizomba C. Kizomba C uses two FPSOs and 36 subsea wells designed to produce the 600 MMbbl of oil from Mondo, Saxi, and Batuque fields in 2,400 ft (800 m) water depth 90 mi (145 km) offshore. Mondo field is the first to flow with Saxi and Batuque expected to add volume in 2008. Mondo is expected to reach 100,000 b/d. When the other two fields reach maximum production, the combined total should hit 200,000 b/d.
Kizomba C
“The startup of Kizomba C is another important step in our work with Sonangol to develop Angola’s significant petroleum resources,” says Mark Albers, senior VP of Exxon Mobil.
Esso Angola says Kizomba C alone resulted in $1.5 billion in local spending for fabrication, logistics support, and training. Angolan suppliers provided subsea manifolds, helidecks, laydown modules, umbilicals, anchor piles, and specialized turret components that were fabricated in Angola. Fabrication of high strength steel turret components was a first in Angola.
In addition to Esso Angola (operator, 40%), other participants in block 15 are BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. (26.67%), ENI Angola Exploration B.V. (20%), and Statoil-Hydro Angola (13.33%). Sonangol is the concessionaire.
Pazflor
At the beginning of development is Total, as operator in block 17, with contracts awarded for products and services required to get into production. Pazflor will be the third production center in block 17, following Girassol and Dalia.
Other fields in block 17 off Angola.
Total says drilling is scheduled to being in 2009 with first oil in 2011. Block 17 is 150 km (93 mi) offshore in waters from 600 m to 1,200 m (1,968 ft to 3,937 ft) and covers 600 sq km (232 sq mi) with a north-south axis more than 30 km (18.5 mi) long. Pazflor is to be developed along the lines of Girassol and Dalia. An FPSO will process oil from 25 subsea production wells; 22 for water injection and two for gas injection. The FPSO processing capacity is set at 200,000 b/d with storage of 1.9 MMbbl.
One twist on Pazflor is that the oil will be coming into the FPSO in two very different streams. One will be light oil at 35º-38º API from an Acacia Oligocene reservoir while Miocene production will be coming in at 17º-22º API.
Of special note, Pazflor is scheduled to feature gas/liquid separation on the seabed at the production wells.
Total E&P Angola, a wholly owned subsidiary of Total, is the operator with a 40% interest. It partners with StatoilHydro (23.33%), Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Ltd. (20%), and BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. (16.67%).
Among the contracts awarded for Pazflor as of press time are the following:
- $1.1 billion to Technip for engineering, procurement, fabrication, and installation of more than 80 km (50 mi) of rigid production and water injection flowlines, flexible risers, integration production bundle risers, and 60 km (37 mi) of umbilicals. Installation is scheduled to begin in 2010
- $700 million to Acergy SA for engineering, procurement, fabrication, and installation of 55 km (34 mi) of water injection, gas injection, and gas export lines, umbilicals, and more than 20 rigid jumpers. Included in the contract is installation of all manifolds, three subsea separation units, and FPSO mooring lines
- $980 million to FMC Technologies Inc. for the subsea processing and production systems. FMC is to supply the three gas/liquid separation systems, 49 subsea trees and wellhead systems, three four-slot production manifolds, production control and umbilical distribution, gas export and flowline connections, and ROV tooling.
Petrobras starts deepwater GoM development contracting
Petrobras America has contracted Subsea 7 Inc. for installation work at the Cascade and Chinook fields in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
The $50-million contract covers engineering and installing 70 km (43.5 mi) of power cables and control umbilicals, and fabricating and installing 16 jumpers. Cascade and Chinook are in Walker Ridge block 425 in 2,300 m to 3,000 m (7,546 ft to 9,842 ft) water depths. The actual installation is scheduled for 4Q 2009 into 1Q 2010. Cascade and Chinook are being developed using the first ever GoM FPSO.
Earlier, Petrobras America had contracted Heerema marine Contractors to install Chinook infield flowlines. The project covers two pipe-in-pipe flowlines of 12 mi (19 km) each. The 14-in. (35.5-cm) casing with 9-in. (23-cm) inner pipe will be installed in 8,000 ft to 8,800 ft (2,440 m to 2,680 m) water depths.
Technip to supply flexible risers, umbilicals for offshore India
Two contracts totaling $396 million went to Technip from Aker Kværner for flexible risers and umbilical installation offshore India in 1,400 m (4,593 ft) of water. Technip will provide 30 km (18.6 mi) of flexible risers and also will install umbilicals and risers supplied by the client. Installation is scheduled for 1Q 2008.
