Aker Bags Subsea Intervention Services Contract Offshore Angola

Aker Solutions’ subsidiary Aker Oilfield Services has received a contract from Total E&P Angola for providing subsea intervention services from the oil services company’s purpose-built intervention vessel, Skandi Aker. The agreement marks a breakthrough for vessel-based intervention services in deep and ultra-deep waters.

The agreement is valid for a period of two (2) years plus options for three further one-year (1+1+1) periods. The firm two-year part of the contract has an aggregated value of approximately USD 250 million. Start-up of operations is planned to take place offshore Angola in Q1 2013.

Skandi Aker is the first well service vessel of its kind capable of performing riser-based subsea well intervention in deep and ultra-deep waters. Traditionally subsea well intervention has been performed from drilling rigs. But the rigs’ high day rates have made such operations very expensive, while rig availability has been limited. The increasing water depths also mean that it has been necessary to develop alternative technology and more cost effective systems to access deepwater wells.

“Skandi Aker is able to perform deepwater well intervention services that oil companies previously needed drilling rigs to conduct. More importantly we do it quicker and more cost effectively, which will increase the frequency of intervention operations and enable our customers’ subsea wells to produce more oil and gas,” says Karl Erik Kjelstad, president of Aker Oilfield Services and head of the Oilfield Services & Marine Assets (OMA) business area in Aker Solutions.

“We are thrilled with this award and to be able to deliver on our vision of developing a cost effective technology for intervention activities at deepwater subsea fields. We are humble about the trust placed in us by Total E&P Angola and their license partners, and look forward to deliver high quality services with the ultimate aim of increasing oil recovery ratios,” adds Kjelstad.

Under the contract Skandi Aker will perform subsea intervention activities related to:

– Well re-entry for testing operations

– Well re-entry for interventions using wireline, coil tubing and well stimulations

– Running/lifting subsea trees with cable or work-over riser

– Suspension or plug and abandonment of wells

Provision of the downhole well services, well test services and ROV services will be provided through separate contracts, outside Aker Solutions’ scope of services for Total E&P Angola.

“In recent years we have made significant investments in developing capabilities for vessel-based subsea intervention activities – both with regards to suitable deepwater technologies and services. We are pleased to see that these investments continue to materialise into contracts,” adds Karl Erik Kjelstad.

Aker Oilfield Services has built up significant resources for subsea intervention and subsea well intervention work. In addition to Skandi Aker, Skandi Santos has since March 2010 been operating very successfully on a 5+ year contract performing subsea intervention work offshore Brazil. Further, In April 2012 the company was awarded a long-term agreement with Statoil to provide a full range of heavy well intervention and light drilling services on the Norwegian continental shelf. The contract period is for eight years, with options for three further two-year periods (2+2+2). Work will be performed from a new build Category B well intervention rig owned and operated by Aker Oilfield Services.

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Angola: Total’s Usan Produces First Oil

French supermajor Total, operator of Block OML138, announces the start-up of production of the offshore Usan field in Nigeria, in line with the planned schedule. Usan is the second deep offshore development operated by Total in Nigeria, coming on stream less than three years after Akpo.

Discovered in 2002, the Usan field lies around 100 kilometers off the South East Nigerian coast in water depths ranging from 750 to 850 meters. The Usan development comprises a spread moored Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel designed to process 180 000 barrels per day and with a crude storage capacity of 2 million barrels. Its size of 320 meters long and 61 meters wide makes it one of the largest vessels of this type in the world. Development involves 42 wells that are connected to the FPSO by a 70 kilometers long subsea network.

Yves-Louis Darricarrère, President Exploration-Production at Total, stated on the occasion:

“I’m particularly proud to announce start-up of this major project together with the concession holder NNPC. This project demonstrates the ability of Total, a key operator of large-scale deep offshore developments in the Gulf of Guinea, to lead ambitious projects that will contribute to increase production for the Group and for the country. Total as operator has introduced a number of technological innovations, among which is a solution that drastically reduces gas flaring and thus minimizes the project’s environmental impact. The development of Usan has involved a record 60% of local content man-hours and thus has contributed to strengthening the know-how of the Nigerian industry in the area of hydrocarbon exploitation in the deep offshore.”

The Usan project has involved an unprecedented level of Nigerian local content, with over 500,000 engineering man-hours and 14 million construction and installation man-hours performed in Nigeria. FPSO construction included an offshore integration of 3,500 tons of locally fabricated structures. In addition, large-scale training and capacity building programs were put in place, raising the skills of the local workforce to the benefit of future projects.

Total’s wholly owned subsidiary Total E&P Nigeria Ltd. operates OML 138 with a 20% interest, while Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the concession holder. Total’s partners are Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. (30%), Esso E&P Nigeria (Offshore East) Ltd. (30%) and Nexen Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. (20%).

Offshore Energy Today Staff, February 24, 2012

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Songa Eclipse Getting Ready for Contract with Total in Angola

Songa Offshore​, Cyprus-based offshore drilling company, today provided a fleet update for October 2011.

Songa Venus remained on location for Petronas Carigali, Malaysia through-out the period. The rig was shut down during the majority of the period and completed earlier announced repairs and testing of re-worked BOP components on December 19. The unit achieved 100% operating efficiency for the remainder of the period after re-commencing operations.

Songa Mercur completed its de-mobilization and load off from Sakhalin, Russia to Labuan Malaysia end of October and the rig has undergone extensive contractual acceptance testing and installation of third party equipment through November and December. The rig is now fully accepted and scheduled to depart for commencement of its two well program in Malaysia with Petronas Carigali.

Songa Dee continued its program for Statoil at the Gulfaks field, and the rig achieved an average operating efficiency of 99% during the period.

Songa Delta completed its scheduled SPS and rig upgrade yard stay at CCB base outside Bergen, Norway during the period. The yard stay was extended from an original 40 days to 56 days mainly due to extended work scopes and additional work related to the BOP system. The rig was then further delayed by weather and remained in sheltered waters until 6th January and is currently in process of anchoring up at location in order to re-commence the contract with Wintershall / Det Norske Oljeselskap.

Songa Trym achieved an operating efficiency of 99% during the period. The rig continues to operate for Statoil in Norway.

Songa Eclipse completed its mobilization to Angola during the period, and the rig is currently undergoing final rig contractual acceptance testing which is expected to be completed during second half of January. The rig will thereafter commence its one well plus 18 month contract with Total E&P Angola

Source

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Worldwide Field Development News Dec 30 – Jan 5, 2012

This week the SubseaIQ team added 1 new projects and updated 16 projects. You can see all the updates made over any time period via the Project Update History search. The latest offshore field develoment news and activities are listed below for your convenience.

Africa – Other BG Group, Ophir Commence Drilling Program Offshore Tanzania Jan 3, 2012 – BG Group has commenced exploratory drilling in Block 1 offshore Tanzania using the Deepsea Metro-1 (UDW drillship). The first three wells in the program will be Jodari-1, Mzia-1 and Papa-1. The operator will drill the Mzia-1 top hole section first, as part of a batch drilling program, then the rig will move to drill Jodari-1 in its entirety, before returning to Mzia-1 to complete the bottom portion of the well. Ophir spudded the Mzia-1 well in 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) of water on Jan. 1, 2012, which should take seven to 10 days. The operator will then spud the Jodari-1 well in a water depth of 3,789 feet (1,155 meters) and drill to total depth of 15,092 feet (4,600 meters) in 40 days. The Jodari prospect contains multiple stacked targets in both the Tertiary and Cretaceous sections with the former having seismic flat spot and amplitude fit to structure. Jodari is modeled to contain mean resources of 2.2 Tcf in the stacked targets. BG Group operates the blocks with a 60 percent stake; while Ophir holds the remaining interest. N. America – US GOM McMoRan Drills Ahead in Blackbeard East Well Jan 5, 2012 – McMoRan has reached a true vertical depth of 33,400 feet (10,180 meters) in the Blackbeard East by-pass well, and logging operations for the section below 30,800 feet (9,388 meters) are under way. Wireline logs indicated that Blackbeard East encountered hydrocarbon bearing sands in the Oligocene with good porosity below 30,000 feet (9,144 meters). The well previously encountered 178 net feet (54 meters) of hydrocarbons in the Miocene sands above 25,000 feet (7,620 meters). Pressure and temperature data below the salt weld between 19,500 feet (5,944 meters) and 24,600 feet (7,498 meters) at Blackbeard East indicate that a completion at these depths could utilize conventional equipment and technologies. The Blackbeard East exploration well lies in 80 feet (24 meters) of water on South Timbalier Block 144. McMoRan operates the block, holding a 38.5% interest; PXP holds 31.5%; EXXI holds 18.0%; W.A. “Tex” Moncrief, Jr. holds 10%; and a private investor holds 1.6%. Project Details: Blackbeard East McMoRan Completes Activities at Davy Jones Discovery Jan 5, 2012 – McMoRan is moving forward with completion activities of the Davy Jones No. 1 discovery well at South Marsh Island Block 230 in the GOM. Installation of the central processing facility for the Davy Jones No. 1 well and sales pipelines were completed. The operator plans to proceed with the completion and flow testing of the well once the wellbore is cleared. Once a flow test is completed, McMoRan expects first production from the well to be established. As previously reported, McMoRan has drilled two wells on the field. The operator expects to complete and flow test both wells in 2012. Davy Jones is located on South Marsh Island Block 234 in 20 feet (6 meters) of water. McMoran operates the block, holding a 32.7% interest; PXP holds 27.7%; EXXI holds 15.8%; Nippon Oil holds 12%; W.A. “Tex” Moncrief, Jr. holds 8.8%; and a private investor holds the remaining 3% interest. Project Details: Davy Jones Africa – West Shell Resumes Bonga Production Jan 5, 2012 – Shell has restarted production at its Bonga oil field offshore Nigeria, after an oil leak was detected. The facility was closed after a leak during a tanker loading operation on Dec. 20, leading to a serious oil spill, announced Dow Jones newswires. Shell says it completed the clean-up from the spill and resumed output on Jan. 1 at the 200,000 bopd oil field. The Bonga field is located 75 miles (120 kilometers) offshore Nigeria in Oil Prospecting License 212. SNEPCo (55%) under a Production Sharing Contract with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) operates Bonga. Project Details: Bonga Maersk Hits Oil Pay in Pre-Salt Well in Angola Jan 4, 2012 – Maersk Oil and partners have made a discovery in the Azul-1 deepwater exploration well in Block 23 in the Kwanza Basin offshore Angola. Azul-1, drilled in a water depth of 3,028 feet (923 meters), reached a final depth of 17,500 feet (5,334 meters). The condition of the well prevented an assessment of flow capacity by a conventional test, which was performed as a mini-DST. This test enabled the recovery of two good quality oil samples. Maersk says the preliminary interpretation of the data indicate a potential flow capacity greater than 3,000 bopd. The operator will further evaluate the results of the discovery and will proceed with exploratory work in the block. Maersk Oil is the operator of Block 23 with a 50 percent interest. Partners in the block consist of Svenska (30 percent) and Sonangol (20 percent). Ophir Targets March to Conduct Appraisal Drilling in Block R Jan 3, 2012 – Ophir Energy expects to secure a rig to commence a three-to-four well drilling program in the extended Block R offshore Equatorial Guinea. The program, which is designed to demonstrate sufficient gas volumes to underpin a planned second LNG train in Equatorial Guinea, will include one or more appraisal wells on Ophir’s Fortuna-1 discovery, plus exploration wells on the Tonel and Silenus prospects. Drilling should commence in late March. Ophir believes that the gas volumes in Block R are likely to range between 2 to 4 Tcf with additional upside potential in as-yet untested play types. Ophir operates the block with an 80 percent stake. Seismic Program Commences Offshore Gabon Jan 3, 2012 – Ophir Energy has commenced a 3D seismic program in the Mbeli and Ntsina licenses offshore Gabon. The operator is acquiring 518,921 acres (2,100 square kilometers) of data, which should take 42 days to complete. The survey is specifically designed to mature pre-salt targets for drilling in late 2012. Ophir operates the licenses with a 50 percent interest; while Statoil holds the remaining interest. Kosmos Plans to Further Appraise Teak in 1Q12 Jan 3, 2012 – Kosmos Energy plans to commence appraisal drilling on the Teak-4 well in first quarter 2012. Teak is located in the West Cape Three Points Block, which Kosmos Energy operates with a 30.875 percent interest. Partners in the license include Anadarko Petroleum (30.875 percent), Tullow Oil (26.396 percent), Sabre Oil & Gas (1.854 percent) and Ghana National Petroleum (10 percent). Project Details: Teak S. America – Other & Carib. BPZ Energy Plans to Install 2nd Platform on Corvina Field in 2H12 Jan 5, 2012 – BPZ Energy expects to install the new CX-15 platform on the Corvina field and begin a development drilling campaign in the second half of 2012. Two wells are scheduled to be completed during 2012 with first oil production expected in the fourth quarter. The Corvina oil and gas field is situated in the offshore Block Z-1 in northwest Peru. BPZ Energy operates the field with a 100% interest in the license. Project Details: Corvina Rockhopper Completes Sidetrack Dec 30, 2011 – Rockhopper Exploration has completed coring and logging operations at well 14/15-4z in the Falkland Basin. The sidetrack well, about 41 feet (12.5 meters) from the main wellbore, reached a total depth of 8,383 feet (2,555 meters) MD. A total of 377 feet (115 meters) of core was cut through the hydrocarbon-bearing Beverley, Casper South, Casper and Sea Lion reservoirs bringing the total amount of core cut during the entire drilling campaign to 1,493 feet (455 meters). Rockhopper says that drilling of the well has completed the commitments required to earn the 60 percent interest and operatorship of license PL004b. The well will now be plugged and abandoned. Project Details: Sea Lion Australia Apache Plans to Appraise Zola in 2012 Jan 3, 2012 – Apache plans to acquire new 3D seismic data over the Zola gas discovery, located in WA-290-P, in June 2012 with processing to follow. Appraisal drilling is set to follow. The field is located in a water depth of 935 feet (285 meters) offshore Western Australia. Apache operates the permit, holding a 30.25% interest. Project Details: Zola Europe – North Sea Aker to Supply Production System for Boyla Development Jan 5, 2012 – Marathon awarded Aker Solutions a contract to supply a subsea production system for the Boyla (formerly Marihone) development in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The scope of work includes engineering, procurement, construction and delivery of four subsea trees, four over-trawlable subsea structures and control systems. Final deliveries will be made in 1Q 2013. The Boyla field, located in Production License 340 in 394 feet (120 meters) of water, will be subsea tied-back to the Alvheim FPSO. Marathon operates the project with a 65 percent interest; while ConocoPhillips holds 20 percent; and Lundin holds 15 percent. Project Details: Alvheim Statoil Finds More Oil in Gullfaks Area Jan 5, 2012 – Statoil found more oil in the Skinfaks South field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The operator confirmed the discovery of light oil in Middle Jurassic reservoir rocks (Brent group) and an 262-foot (80-meter) high column in good-quality reservoir rocks. Drilled to a vertical depth of 12,211 feet (3,722 meters), the well concluded in the Drake formation in Middle Jurassic rocks. The field is located on Block 33/12, directly west of the Gullfaks field in the Tampen area. Serving as operator of the block is Statoil with a 70 percent interest; while Petoro holds the remaining interest. Project Details: Greater Gullfaks Area Noreco Divests Interests in PL 435 Dec 30, 2011 – Norwegian Energy Company (Noreco) has completed the sale of its interest in license PL 435, containing the gas discovery Zidane-1, to OMV. Noreco is also under certain conditions entitled to an additional consideration if a discovery is made in the upcoming exploration well Zidane-2. The license contains the Zidane-1 gas discovery, which was made in 2010, and is estimated to contain between 5 and 18 Bcm of recoverable gas. Project Details: Zidane S. America – Brazil Petrobras Signs Lease, Operating Contract for Marlim Sul FPSO Jan 5, 2012 – SBM Offshore has received an extension of 26 months for the lease and operating contract of the Marlim Sul FPSO from Petrobras. The extension begins in April 2012, at the end of the initial lease period, which was eight years. The vessel is capable of processing 100,000 bopd and 2.3 MMcm/d of gas compression. The produced gas is exported through Campos Basin pipelines. The vessel is moored in a water depth of 4,692 feet (1,430 meters), and has five oil producers and four water injectors tied-back to the FPSO. Project Details: Marlim Sul (South) Petrobras Finds Light Oil in Golfinho Concession Jan 3, 2012 – Petrobras has discovered a light oil and natural gas accumulation in the Golfinho Concession (4-BRSA-1001-ESS) offshore Brazil. The discovery was made during the drilling of well 4-GLF-31-ESS, known as Tambuata, in a water depth of 4,987 feet (1,520 meters). Petrobras will continue to drill the well at a depth of 20,013 feet (6,100 meters) in order to test deeper formations. Reservoirs from the Cretaceous Period, Santonian Age were identified and are already producing in the field, at a depth between 14,862 and 15,322 feet (4,530 and 4,670 meters), stated the operator. The reservoirs are in good condition for production. Petrobras Submits DOC for Guara Development Jan 3, 2012 – Petrobras has submitted a Declaration of Commerciality with the Brazilian National Agency of Petroluem, Natural Gas and Biofuels for the accumulations of light oil and gas in the Guara area. This declaration marks the start of the production phase for the field. The consortium will rename the field as Sapinhoa. The consortium drilled four wells in the area, including one well designed for reservoir data acquisition. Drill stem tests were performed on three of the wells. In addition, a five-month extended well test was carried out on the discovery well, confirming the excellent productivity of the Guara reservoir. Data gathered from this test will assist in the optimization of the field development plan. Guara is located in Block BM-S-6 about 186 miles (300 kilometers) off the Sao Paulo state coast. Petrobras serves as the operator of the consortium, holding a 45 percent interest; while BG Group holds 30 percent; and Repsol Sinopec Brazil holds 25 percent. Project Details: Sapinhoa (Guara) Petrobras Estimates Guara Presalt Area Holds 2.1B BOE Dec 30, 2011 – Petrobras estimates that the Guara presalt area holds roughly 2.1 Bbbl of oil equivalent in Brazil’s Santos basin. The new field, located in BM-S-9 block, is formed by reservoirs of high-quality oil. Petrobras sent a declaration of viability to Brazil’s national oil regulator, ANP, a year ahead of the deadline it was given. The company plans to submit a development plan to the organization in February.

Source

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Angola: Azul-1 Deepwater Well Brings Oil to Maersk Oil

Songangol, Maersk Oil and other partners declared the Azul-1 deepwater exploration well, located in Block 23 in the Kwanza Basin offshore Angola, a discovery well.

The Azul-1 well, the first to penetrate pre-salt objectives in Angolan deepwater, was drilled in water depths of 923 meters and reached a final depth of 5,334 meters. The condition of the well prevented an assessment of flow capacity by a conventional test. This was performed as a mini-Drill Stem Test that enabled the recovery of two good quality oil samples.

The preliminary interpretation of the data indicated a potential flow capacity greater than 3,000 barrels of oil a day. Taking into account these encouraging results, Maersk Oil will further evaluate the results of this discovery and will proceed with exploration work in the block.

Sonangol E.P. is the block Concessionaire. Maersk Oil is operator of Block 23 with a 50% working interest with partners Svenska (30%) and Sonangol P & P (20%).

“We are encouraged by the results of our first pre-salt exploration well in this region, which was also the first ever deep water well targeting pre-salt reservoirs in the Kwanza Basin. The result may be a further step towards our goal of building up a significant business in Angola,” said Lars Nydahl Jorgensen, Head of Exploration at Maersk Oil.

“There is substantial evaluation work ahead of us to determine whether the discovery is enough to invest further to get production going. This will be done by, amongst other things, state of the art reprocessing of seismic data. Fully appraising the discovery will take several years and it is far too early to guess the outcome,” Jorgensen said.

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USA: Cobalt Excited About Return to Gulf Drilling

Cobalt International Energy, Inc. announced today that the Ensco 8503 drilling rig, contracted to Cobalt, has returned to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico following a sublet of the rig to drill a well in French Guiana. Cobalt received the required U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Compliance and has subsequently received APD approval from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) for the Ligurian #2 exploratory well.

The company expects to spud Ligurian #2 by year end. Ligurian is located in the Southern Green Canyon Area immediately adjacent to the 2009 Heidelberg discovery in which Cobalt is a part owner. After drilling Ligurian #2, Cobalt plans to move the rig to the North Platte #1 well location in the Garden Banks Area to drill that prospect. Cobalt anticipates that each of the Ligurian #2 and North Platte #1 exploratory wells will take approximately six months to drill.

“Obtaining the approved APD for Ligurian #2 represents another significant milestone for Cobalt”, said Van P. Whitfield, Cobalt’s Chief Operating Officer. “Ligurian #2 will be our first company-operated well drilled in the Gulf of Mexico since the deepwater drilling moratorium was enforced in May 2010. We are definitely excited about our return to drilling and are confident in our ability to drill this well safely. Additionally, we look forward to obtaining the additional permits required to drill and evaluate the multiple other significant world class prospects we have in our Gulf of Mexico portfolio.”

Cobalt is the operator of the Ligurian #2 well located in Green Canyon Block 814, with a 45% working interest. Other working interest owners include TOTAL E&P USA, INC. with a 30% working interest and Sonangol Exploration & Production International, Ltd. with a 25% working interest.

2012 Cash Expenditure Forecast

Cobalt also announced that its 2012 cash expenditures will be $500-$550 million. This range is consistent with previous guidance for 2011-13 cash expenditures of $1.3-$1.4 billion and compares with $170-$190 million recently estimated for 2011. The increased cash expenditures for 2012 relative to 2011 anticipates increased U.S. Gulf of Mexico and offshore Angola drilling activity and the payment of the first social bonus contribution associated with Angola Block 20. Cobalt’s net expenditures for 2012 exploration and appraisal drilling are forecasted at $250-$300 million. Each range of cash expenditures excludes changes to restricted cash items such as escrow agreements and collateralized letters of credit.

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Oceaneering Bags Angola Gig from BP

Oceaneering International, Inc. announced that it has secured a three-year Field Support Vessel Services contract from BP p.l.c. Oceaneering will provide project management, engineering, and vessel services offshore Angola on Blocks 18 and 31, commencing February 1, 2012. The contract provides for two option periods of one year each, exercisable by BP.

Two chartered vessels, the Ocean Intervention III and the Bourbon Oceanteam 101, will be supplied under the contract. Each vessel will be outfitted with two Oceaneering work class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) capable of working in 3,000 meters of water. Oceaneering will mobilize its chartered vessel, the Ocean Intervention III, from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to Angola commencing in early January 2012. The contract scope of work includes light subsea construction, inspection, maintenance, and repair services on existing and future subsea infrastructure. The contract has a provision for Oceaneering to provide, at BP’s option, a third vessel after the commencement date.

M. Kevin McEvoy, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are pleased to have secured this contract with BP, one of our largest customers. This project builds on our well-established deepwater vessel project capabilities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and represents a significant geographic expansion with considerable backlog for our Subsea Projects business. It further reinforces our long-term commitment to Angola, which is a growing market for Oceaneering’s services and products.

BP’s involvement with Angola goes back to the mid 1970s. During the 1990s, BP made very substantial investments in Angola’s offshore oil, and it is now an important part of the company’s upstream portfolio. The UK based oil giant on Tuesday confirmed that it has gained access to five more deepwater exploration and production blocks offshore Angola.

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BP Gains Access to 5 More Deepwater Blocks Off Angola

BP’s involvement with Angola goes back to the mid 1970s. During the 1990s, BP made very substantial investments in Angola’s offshore oil, and it is now an important part of the company’s upstream portfolio. The UK based oil giant today confirmed that it has gained access to five more deepwater exploration and production blocks offshore Angola.

These give BP a leading position in Angola, with interests in nine blocks accounting for a total acreage of 32,650 square kilometres (km2).

In a ceremony today in Luanda, in the presence of state oil company Sonangol’s president Manuel Vincente and BP group chief executive Bob Dudley, the production sharing agreements were signed for four new blocks covering 19,400 km2 in the Kwanza and Benguela basins.

Separately, BP has recently taken a 40% stake in the 4,840 km2 Block 26 in the Benguela basin, by agreeing a farm-in deal with Brazilian national oil company, Petrobras, which operates the block.

“In October, we told the markets we would build on our strengths in exploration and in the deepwater to provide future growth for BP. This new access builds on the major presence we have developed in Angola over the past 10 years, investing a total of $21 billion in the business. We plan to double our global spend on exploration and this huge new acreage gives us more great opportunities. We look forward to working with Sonangol in the Kwanza and Benguela basins,” said Bob Dudley. “The last 14 months have been our most successful for a decade in gaining new access for exploration – with 69 new exploration licences in 11 countries.”

BP was awarded operatorship of Blocks 19 and 24 with 50% interest, and additional non-operating interests in Blocks 20 (20%) and 25 (15%). With Block 26, the five new blocks cover a total area of 24,000 km2 in water depths from 200 to 2500 metres, and increase BP’s total Angolan acreage by 275%.

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