Total launches Kaombo ultra-deep project offshore Angola

Total and its JV partners have made the final investment decision to develop the ultra-deep offshore Kaombo project in Angola. With a production capacity of 230,000 bpd, Kaombo will develop estimated reserves of 650 MMbbl. Following an intensive optimization exercise, the project’s capital expenditure to reach full capacity was reduced by $4 bn to $16 bn, with an expected start-up in 2017.

“With the launch of Kaombo, the upcoming start-up of CLOV and three exploration wells planned in the Kwanza basin this year, Angola remains a priority country for Total,” outlined Yves-Louis Darricarrere, President Total Upstream. “While continuing our commitment to develop the Angolan oil industry, Total has significantly optimized the project’s design and contracting strategy in recent months. Kaombo illustrates both the Group’s capital discipline and objective to reduce capex.”

Located approximately 260 km offshore Luanda in water depths ranging from 1,400 to 1,900 m, the Kaombo project will develop six of the 12 discoveries already made on Block 32. The six fields (Gengibre, Gindungo, Caril, Canela, Mostarda and Louro) cover an area of 800 sq km in the central and southeast part of the block.

The Kaombo development scheme includes 59 subsea wells connected through around 300 km of subsea lines to two FPSOs, each with a production capacity of 115,000 bpd. The two FPSOs will be based on conversions of very large crude carriers (VLCCs) into production units. Associated gas will be exported to the onshore Angola LNG plant.

The Kaombo development includes a substantial level of local content. Over 14 mn man-hours of fabrication and construction works will be performed locally in Angolan yards which will be used for equipment fabrication and assembly.

Total is the operator of Block 32, with a 30% stake, alongside Sonangol P&P (30%), Sonangol Sinopec International (20%), Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) (15%) and Galp Energia (5%).

Providing useful resources, articles and writings on crude oil, other petroleum products, energy and gas. By Tolfem Investments Limited, online.

VNG Norway discovers 226-m hydrocarbon column near Njord field

VNG Norge AS, operator of production licence 586, has concluded the drilling of exploration well 6406/12-3 S. The test results indicate a discovery far larger than expected.

The well was drilled on the Halten Terrace, about 33 km southwest of the Njord field.

The main objective of the well was to test the hydrocarbon potential in the Pil prospect, up-dip from the offset well 6406/12-1 S. The primary reservoir target was Upper Jurassic sandstones of the Rogn and Melke formations.

The well encountered a 91 m gas column and a 135 m oil column in Upper Jurassic sandstones. Preliminary analyses based on extensive coring, wireline logs and pressure data show that the well has encountered sandstones with very good reservoir properties.

An extensive data acquisition program was carried out in the well, including a successful production test. The production rate was 1,067 Sm3 oil per flow day through a 56/64-in. nozzle. The test showed good flow properties and the gas/oil ratio was 152 Sm3/Sm3. Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery at between 8 and 27 million Sm³ recoverable oil equivalents with a considerable additional upside volume within the Pil closure not proven by the well.

Production licence 586 was awarded on 4 February 2011 (APA 2010) and this was the first well to be drilled in the licence. 6406/12-3 S was drilled to a vertical depth of 3,738 ms below sea level, and was terminated in the Upper Jurassic Melke formation. The water depth is 324 meters. The well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Well 6406/12-3 S was drilled by the Transocean Arctic drilling facility, which will now first drill a a down dip sidetrack to prove up the lateral extent of the Pil reservoir and the upside case.

This will be followed by a further sidetrack to assess the potential of the neighbouring Bue target.

VNG Norge is the operator in PL586 with a 30% share. Partners are Spike Exploration (30 %), Faroe Petroleum Norge (25 %) and Rocksource Exploration Norway (15 %).

Providing useful resources, articles and writings on crude oil, other petroleum products, energy and gas. By Tolfem Investments Limited, online.