Promising Oil Discoveries In Africa
Ghana
Aker Energy an oil firm from Norway is planning to submit a plan to develop its block out of Ghana’s coastline. The delay will allow time for the completion of appraisal drilling that is expected to start in October.
The Norwegian company has bought fifty percent stake in Ghana’s Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points block from Hess for $100 million last February.
Starting the discovery phase in October will provide the most up to date data on the reservoir model.
Aker Energy is planning to make a final decision and submit field development plan to the Ghanaian authorities early next year, with production projection to start late 2021 or early 2022.
About 400 million barrels of oil is planned for production using floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO).
The volumes are estimated at more than a billion barrels, the production could be increased depending on further discoveries.
A letter of intent was signed to use Maersk Drilling’s Maersk Viking drillship, which was previously employed by Exxon Mobil and is currently located in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Niger
A new discovery was made in Niger at the Eridal-1 exploration well. An estimated 44.6 feet of net oil-bearing reservoir sandstone in the E1 reservoir unit, with the primary Eocene Sokor Alternances objectives. It is the 3rd consecutive discovery in Niger the prospect to additional finding is yet to come.
Angola
Total has started the production of Kaombo the biggest deep offshore development in Angola located off the coast of Luanda.
The Kaombo Norte the first Floating Production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit is scheduling to produce an estimated 115,000 barrels/day. Kaombo Sul is expected to start-up production next year. It is forecasted to reach an estimated 230,000 barrels of oil/day at peak with the associated gas to be exported to the Angola LNG plant.
It is expected 59 wells will be connected to the two FPSOs. The development of six different fields (Caril, Canela Gengibre, Gindungo, Louro and Mostarda) over an area of 800 square kilometers in the central and southern part of the block
It is estimated the Kaombo development will be 650 million barrels of reserves and contribute Total’s growing production and cashflow in Africa.
Currently Total operates Block 32 with a 30% participating interest, along with Sonangol P&P (30%), Sonangol Sinopec International 32 Limited (20%), Esso Exploration & Production Angola (Overseas) Limited (15%) and Galp Energia Overseas Block 32 B.V. (5%)