Anadarko plans Congo well
Houston-based independent Anadarko, which has recently started active exploration in the promising West African deep offshore fairway, has scheduled the Frida prospect, in Marine IX block off Congo, for drilling in last quarter the year. The prospect is located in 600 meters water depth, and the proposed total depth is about 10,000 ft. The actual location of the well will be confirmed after completion of 3D seismic interpretation currently underway.
Exxon continues Angola wildcatting
While running into obstacles in its planned field development in block 15, ExxonMobil continues its wildcatting work in deepwater Angola. The company spudded Semba 1, its first Angolan well outside the prolific block 15. The well is located in block 24 in 3,837 ft water depth and looks on trend with Agip's Leao-1 (believed to have been plugged and abandoned as a dry hole) in block 25 northwards. Partners include Sonangol with 20%, Petronas with 15% and Ocean Energy with 15%. The well is planned to drill to 12,300 ft with primary objective in the Cretaceous. The rig is the semisubmersible Charles Donabedian, formerly known as Jim Cunningham.
Abidjan: Devon relinquishing block
Devon has relinquished its 90% in block CI 202, offshore Abidjan margin just a few months after testing gas and condensate in a well on the lease. Devon made an upward revision of its estimates of hydrocarbon in Hippo 1, which was plugged and abandoned. The well had targeted Cenomanian sands and was drilled with the Ocean Liberator. It hit total depth at 8,193 ft.
OWA focusing on emerging frontier
Focusing on "Challenges for the Emerging Frontier," Offshore West Africa 2001, held in late March, featured experts on West African exploration and development. Speakers were drawn from companies such as TotalFinaElf, Shell, Conoco, Chevron, Vanco, and Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. Topical areas include scene setting remarks and a panel of energy experts. Nigerian President and Armed Forces Comm-ander in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was a keynote speaker. The show was held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Nexen P&A's Niger Delta well
Nexen, formerly Canadian Occidental, has plugged and abandoned its first well in OPL 226 in shallow offshore Niger Delta. The well, Noa 1, is located 5 km south of Texaco's Anyala field, in OML 83. Nexen is technical partner and 40% holder in OPL 226, which is held by the indigenous company Solgas. In OML 109, Nexen has a service contract with Atlas Petroleum, producing 6,000 b/d. The company also has a 20% interest in TotalFinaElf's 20% operated deepwater lease OPL 222, which includes Chevron with 30% and ExxonMobil with 30%.
Sasol buying into Eq. Guinea tract
The upstream arm of South African synfuels giant Sasol has added one more place to its nest in West Africa. It has farmed into 10% of Chevron's 4,250-sq km deepwater block L, off Equatorial Guinea. If the Equatorial Guinea government approves the deal, Sasol will be Chevron's second partner in the block, which it signed into in 2000. Last January, Dallas-based independent Triton became a 25% partner in block L.
