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Wood Mackenzie: East Africa’s Yet-to-Find Reserves Hold 95 tcf of Gas
Wood Mackenzie estimates that 100 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas has been discovered in Mozambique and Tanzania to date, ranking the Rovuma Basin as one of the most prolific conventional gas plays in the world.
However, there are significant technical and commercial challenges to be overcome in order to bring the gas to market by the end of this decade. These include: addressing issues around infrastructure, government capacity, financing and reaching a positive outcome to unitisation negotiations in Mozambique.
Recent discoveries and high profile M&A activity in Mozambique and Tanzania are attracting attention and Martin Kelly, Wood Mackenzie’s Head of Sub-Sahara Upstream Research, says the interest is justified: “100 tcf of gas has been discovered to date in East Africa and we estimate yet-to-find reserves could be as much as 80 tcf in Mozambique and 15 tcf in Tanzania. There is clearly plenty of gas to supply the likely commercialisation route of LNG – theoretically enough to support up to 16 LNG trains.
“The Rovuma basin is the most prolific in the region, and one of the hottest conventional gas plays in the world, with 85 tcf discovered so far. Globally in 2011, it yielded the third most hydrocarbons, and we expect it to top the list in 2012 if the first half of the year is anything to go by,” Kelly continues.
In neighbouring Tanzania, the targets are the northern extension of the Rovuma Basin and the Mafia Basin. Kelly says: “Tanzania has enjoyed considerable exploration success as well, but hasn’t discovered the same scale of reserves. The average discovery size is much smaller at around 2 tcf, compared to Mozambique which is over 7 tcf. Discoveries in Tanzania are also more spread out, so developing them will be more expensive than those in Mozambique because additional infrastructure will be required.”
One of the most immediate challenges for Mozambique, is the unitisation discussions which Wood Mackenzie understands have already begun. Kelly explains; “Of the 85 tcf of gas discovered to date in Mozambique, around half of it is thought to be one enormous field which is in communication across the block. Under Mozambican law, a unitisation agreement between the operating parties will be required.”
Although there is a risk that unitisation discussions could delay Final Investment Decision (FID) – the crucial last step before commercial development – and therefore LNG production, there are other discoveries which are wholly contained in Area 1 and Area 4 and therefore gas could come from these first.
Giles Farrer, Senior LNG research analyst for Wood Mackenzie comments: “Many challenges will need to be overcome prior to LNG project sanction. The region’s remoteness and lack of development present serious technical obstacles. There is virtually no existing skilled workforce and both Mozambique and Tanzania will have to build and establish deepwater ports capable of servicing the needs of the petroleum sector. On the commercial side, there is the question of government capacity – whether there is sufficient impetus and capability within the governments and national oil companies to advance the huge legislative, bureaucratic, customs and financial challenges that such a development would bring.
“The major outstanding milestone for Mozambique is the conclusion of a commercial framework agreement, which is in the process of being negotiated. It will determine how the LNG facility or facilities will be structured for the purpose of taxation and whether the Joint Ventures (JVs) will co-operate in the construction of a single, mega LNG facility, or pursue individual developments. One crucial advantage that the Tanzanian projects enjoy is that they have already negotiated commercial terms, prior to the announcement of their projects.”
Farrer continues: “Lastly there is the question of finance, we estimate that a two train greenfield development in the region is going to cost at least US$25 billion, and for some of the players involved financing their share of this sort of development cost will certainly prove challenging and could delay development.”
The joint analysis by Wood Mackenzie’s upstream and LNG research teams stresses that these challenges are not insurmountable. “They have been encountered and overcome in several countries before. The risk is that delays could lengthen development schedules and add to costs,” Farrer says in closing.
Wood Mackenzie: East Africa’s Yet-to-Find Reserves Hold 95 tcf of Gas| Offshore Energy Today.
Recap: Worldwide Field Development News (May 18 – May 24, 2012)
| This week the SubseaIQ team added 5 new projects and updated 33 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.
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May 23, 2012 – Pan Pacific Petroleum, a partner on the Tui field, reported that the joint venture has further progressed evaluation of the Tui Area upside and has identified two potential development infill opportunities and two prospects, which are currently being further matured to enable the JV to decide on possible drilling plans. Subject to approval and rig availability, drilling is planned for 4Q 2012 – 1Q 2013.
May 21, 2012 – Premier Oil announced that the Dua project, a tie-in to the Chim Sao field, was formally sanctioned by Premier and Santos in April. It is expected that the necessary Vietnamese government approvals will be received during the second quarter of 2012. In the meantime, bids for FPSO modifications and the drilling rig have been received and are being evaluated. Premier continues to target 2014 for first oil.
May 21, 2012 – Otto Energy provided an update on remaining oil reserves balances at the Galoc oil field in the Philippines, performed by independent consulting firm RISC. The company confirmed the reported increase in reserves is attributable to better than expected reservoir performance to date and an extension of field life due to higher prevailing oil prices. Galoc is expected to remain in production until 2016 to 2018 on the basis of the existing two wells alone. Otto Energy estimates Contingent Resources of 1.49 MMboe (Otto share) at 2C level attributable to the Galoc Phase II development, currently progressing through Front End Engineering and Design, with a target Final Investment Decision around mid-2012.
May 21, 2012 – Wartsila Hamworthy will deliver inert gas generator units to eight FPSOs in the Santos Basin. Six of the units will be deployed for the Tupi fields with the other two being utilized for the Guara field. The first two units will undergo full scale testing at the factory in Moss prior to delivery, starting as soon as the end of December this year and up to the end of January 2015. Each of the units will be installed on the utility module on the FPSO inside a dedicated compartment. The eight FPSOs are currently under construction in Brazil.
May 21, 2012 – Total has confirmed the success of the G4 well intervention at the Elgin complex. To regain control of the well, heavy mud was pumped into the G4 well from the West Phoenix (UDW semisub). The leak was stopped, stated the company. Following the success of the well intervention, the next phase will be to re-man the Elgin complex and restart the Rowan Viking (430′ ILC) drilling rig in order to set cement plugs in the G4 well. This phase, aiming at completing the plugging and permanent abandonment procedure of the G4 well, will take several weeks. Once the first cement plug is set in the G4 well by the Rowan Viking, the drilling of the ongoing relief well with the Sedco 714 (mid-water semisub) will be stopped. In consultation with the appropriate authorities, it has been decided that drilling a second relief well by the Rowan Gorilla V (400′ ILC) jackup is no longer necessary and has therefore been cancelled.
May 21, 2012 – E.ON reported that progress has been made offshore on the Huntington field in the UK sector of the North Sea. The production wells drilled to date have exceeded expectations and development drilling is expected to be completed in July. The infill pipeline is now being laid and a two month installation FPSO window, commencing on September 1, has been secured. Previously announced delays to the upgrade of the FPSO have been addressed by increasing the manpower in the yard. The operator continues to forecast fourth quarter for first oil with an expected plateau production rate of 25,000 bopd.
May 22, 2012 – Shell has begun development drilling at its Cardamom field in Garden Banks Block 427 using the Noble Jim Thompson (DW semisub). The rig will drill two wells, with each well taking about 90 days. Both wells will be tied-back to the Auger TLP. Shell’s DOCD for Cardamom includes drilling four development wells and permits for all wells have been approved.Related articles
- Anadarko: Another Major Discovery Offshore Mozambique (mb50.wordpress.com)
- UK: Cove Encourages Shareholders to Accept Shell’s Takeover Bid (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Anadarko Strikes More Mozambique Gas (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Ocean Rig Drillship to Drill for Chariot Offshore Namibia (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Recap: Worldwide Field Development News (Apr 27 – May 3, 2012) (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Anadarko expands massive Mozambique discovery (fuelfix.com)
Grid Petroleum Corp. — Announces Joint Venture Development Agreement for New Area of Interest
DENVER, Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Grid Petroleum Corp. (OTCBB: GRPR) The Board of Directors are pleased to announce that Grid Petroleum has entered into a Joint Venture Development Agreement with a private holding company, to develop a Mutual Area of Interest in the Northwest Premont Field in Jim Wells County Texas. The Field covers 4,500 acres and is part of the Gulf Coast Trend in South Texas.
Reserves are estimated to contain over 20 million barrels of oil (bbls) and 20 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas from as many as 15 potentially productive zones per well. The initial phase of the Development Agreement outlines the drilling and completion of 20 new wells and the re-entry of 8 additional previously drilled and completed shut-in wells.
The company had previously announced negotiations to purchase the private holding company, however it has been determined a Joint Venture Development Agreement will serve the company and its shareholders more beneficially in the near term.
Grid Petroleum will begin participation with the second well to be drilled under the Joint Venture Development Agreement at a level of 10% for an investment of $152,000.
Grid has the opportunity to make the Companies first investment into the Joint Venture after the results of the first well-drilled and completed are available for analysis, greatly reducing the risk of the investment by Grid Petroleum into the entire field.
The purpose of the development of the Northwest Premont Field is to create value and income by re-entering certain wells, which have been tested and have proven oil and gas producing zones, and the drilling of strategically located wells containing multiple zone production in a manner that produces high rates of stable production; proving the reserves of the underlying pay zones for further development of the field through production.
To date the fields operator has re-entered two wells, the Guerra #2 and the Garcia #2. The Guerra #2 was drilled to 4,000 feet and tested positively for oil and gas in 12 potentially productive sand zones encountering 118 net feet of pay.
AP Yang, Petroleum Engineers of Houston Texas ran 45 days of open flow tests to draw down the pressure of each of the productive zones in the well. The absolute open flow rate calculations indicated the lobe flow of the Laughlin oil sand deposit tested at 15,541,000 cubic feet gas per day. The upper lobe flow tested at 5,063,000 cubic feet peer day. The combined total of 20,604,000 cubic feet per day from 16 feet of net pay zone for this one well with multiple pay zones.
Preliminary Reserves Estimates for the Guerra #2 are 100,000 to 150,000 Barrels of oil and 1.5 Billion Cubic Feet to 2.5 Billion Cubic Feet of natural gas.
The second re entry well the Garcia #2 is co-mingling two gas zones with production averaging 1.0 million cubic feet of gas per day. An Oil zone is also producing an average of 39 barrels of oil per day. Reserve estimates for the Garcia #2 will have similar potential production levels as the Guerra #2.
The current price of gas ranges between $2.75 and $3.00 per mcf.
20 million cubic feet per day of gas production represents a potential gross of $60,000.00 per day.
Grid Petroleum Corp is a development stage company focused on the acquisition and development of low cost high reward oil and gas prospects with infield drilling for proven potential reserves in the United States and Canada.
The company anticipates the initiation of a development plan with its joint venture partners for the purpose of establishing suitable drill sites for the Kreyenhagen Trend leases.
Upon completion the company will have established a time line for the development of its significant Oil and Gas assets.
New Terminal JV in China for Odfjell SE
Odfjell SE has made an agreement to enter into a joint venture via its subsidiary Odfjell Terminals Asia Pte Ltd (Singapore), with Tianjin Economic-Technology Development Area (TEDA) via its subsidiary Nangang Port Company to develop a terminal and marine facilities for bulk liquid chemicals, petroleum products and gases in the Nangang Industrial Zone (Tianjin) in China.
The initial phase of the joint venture will consist of three deep sea berths and have a total storage capacity of about 150,000 cubic meters.
The joint venture company will be named Odfjell Terminals Nangang (Tianjin), whereby Odfjell will hold 49% ownership and hold the operational management. The initial total investment is estimated to be about USD 160 million. The first phase will start operations during the second quarter of 2014. The Nangang Industrial Zone is located about 120 km from Beijing and will become the major petrochemical complex in the Western Bohai Bay area
Related articles
- South Korea: Naming Ceremony for Odfjell Drilling’s New UDW Drillship (mb50.wordpress.com)
- UK: Largest Contract in Odfjell Drilling’s History (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Deepsea Metro II Drillship Arrives in South Africa (mb50.wordpress.com)
- South Korean Hyundai Heavy Delivers Deepsea Metro II Drillship (mb50.wordpress.com)
USA: Total Enters Utica Shale JV with Chesapeake
Total announced that its subsidiary, Total E&P USA, has signed and completed on December 30, 2011 an agreement to enter into a Joint Venture with Chesapeake Exploration, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and affiliates of its partner EnerVest Ltd.
In the agreement, Total acquires a 25% share in Chesapeake’s and EnerVest’s liquids-rich area of the Utica shale play located across 10 counties on the eastern side of the state of Ohio, USA.
Yves-Louis Darricarrère, President, Total Exploration & Production, stated “Total is delighted to be building on our technical successes with Chesapeake in the Barnett Shale Joint Venture and to expand into the liquids-rich Utica Shale play in Ohio. This is consistent with our strategy to develop positions in unconventional plays with large potential and, in this case, with value predominantly linked to oil price. This joint venture will provide us with a material position in a valuable long-term resource base under attractive terms and with a top-class operator. Total is conscious of the environmental aspects linked to developing shale acreage and is confident in Chesapeake’s capacity to manage the Utica shale operations in a responsible manner, respecting the highest industry standards. ”
The transaction is effective as of November 1, 2011. Total has paid Chesapeake and EnerVest about USD 700 million in cash for acquiring these assets. Total will also be committed to pay additional amounts up to USD 1.63 billion over a maximum period of 7 years in the form of a 60% carry of Chesapeake and EnerVest’s future capital expenditures on drilling and completion of wells within the Joint Venture.
The Joint Venture covers approximately 619,000 net acres, of which 542,000 net acres are brought by Chesapeake and 77,000 net acres are brought by EnerVest. Total will acquire its 25% share from each of Chesapeake and EnerVest on identical terms, giving a total of 155,000 net acres. Chesapeake will operate the Joint Venture acreage.
As a result of the transaction, Total will also acquire a 25% share in any new acreage which will be acquired by Chesapeake in the liquids-rich area of the Utica shale play.
To date 13 wells have been drilled across the acreage with very promising results seen from each well in terms of productivity and liquid content. The Joint Venture plans to ramp up the drilling activities in the coming 3 years with 25 rigs planned to be mobilized by 2014 to fully appraise and develop the acreage. SEC production in Total’s share is expected to reach 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the end of the decade.
Additionally, Total, Chesapeake and EnerVest have agreed to jointly develop the construction of the necessary midstream facilities to export the production from this acreage.
Related articles
- Who Is Chesapeake’s ‘Undisclosed’ Partner for Utica Shale JV? (forbes.com)
- Total enters shale-energy venture with Chesapeake (marketwatch.com)
- Stocks to Watch: Chesapeake, BP, Halliburton (thestreet.com)
- New Frontiers: the attention turns to some up-and-coming plays (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Total Said to Consider Chesapeake’s $2.14 Billion Ohio Shale (businessweek.com)
Shell to Become Operator of Guyane Maritime Permit in French Guiana
Northern announces that earlier today, Tullow Oil Plc (“Tullow”) in their Interim Management Statement provided the following update on well GM-ES-1, in the Guyane Maritime Permit, in which Northern has a 1.25% interest:
“In French Guiana, the Zaedyus exploration well discovered 72 metres of net oil pay in two turbidite fans. This is the first well in Tullow’s extensive Guyana Basin acreage and successfully proved that the Jubilee play is mirrored across the Atlantic from West Africa. Currently, a sidetrack is being drilled to recover reservoir cores with operations expected to complete in mid-November. The partners are working on the 2012 programme and anticipate it to include 3D seismic and the drilling of two wells which is expected to commence in mid-2012 once all the necessary approvals have been obtained.
Shell is expected to take over Operatorship of the block in early 2012, subject to Government and Joint Venture approval.”
The partner interests in the Guyane Maritime licence offshore French Guiana are:
Shell France 45%
Tullow 27.5%
Total 25%
Northpet Investments 2.5% (Northern owns a 50% equity interest in Northpet)
Related articles
- Tullow Discovers Oil Offshore French Guiana (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Tullow Becomes Operator of New PSC Offshore Mauritania (mb50.wordpress.com)
Tullow Becomes Operator of New PSC Offshore Mauritania
Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announces that new Production Sharing Contract (PSC) arrangements have been agreed with the Government of Mauritania and its Joint Venture partners. These arrangements will enable the Group to progress the appraisal and development of existing discoveries and pursue exploration in a new contract area covering 10,725 square kilometers with Tullow as operator.
The new arrangements, reached through transactions with partners and PSC awards from the Government, result in the exploration areas of the PSCs previously known as PSC-Area A and PSC-Area B being replaced by a new, single Exploration PSC called C-10. Tullow will operate this new PSC with a 59.15% interest. The existing Banda, Tevet and Tiof discoveries have been ring-fenced under their original PSC terms and extensions of up to 18 months have been granted to allow appraisal and development activities to be completed. Petronas will continue to operate Chinguetti Field on the basis of the original equities.
Tullow will now work closely with the Government of Mauritania and its Joint Venture partners on the near-term commercialization of the existing discoveries and the initiation of a high-impact exploration programme. The development of the Banda gas and Banda oil rim discoveries will be prioritized and it is expected that the results of initial development studies will be presented to the Government in early 2012. The high impact exploration programme is expected to include a minimum of two wells over the next three years.
Following the various agreements with partners and the Government of Mauritania, Tullow has significantly increased its equity position in the region.
As a result of this increase in activity in Mauritania, Tullow expects to significantly enhance its presence in Nouakchott, with a strong focus on the development of local staff and local content wherever possible. Furthermore, Tullow will be looking to award a number of bursaries to suitably qualified students from Mauritania.
Commenting today, Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive, said:
“We are delighted to have agreed new PSC arrangements offshore Mauritania. As Operator of the Banda, Tiof and Tevet discoveries, we will now work closely with the Government of Mauritania to commercialize these important hydrocarbon resources. We have also identified significant new exploration potential in this acreage and look forward to applying the knowledge and expertise of similar geological plays gained from our successful Equatorial Atlantic exploration campaigns in West Africa and South America. While we have worked in Mauritania for many years, this is essentially an exciting new beginning for Tullow as we increase our equity and take on the operatorship in these highly valuable and prospective licenses.”
Related articles
- ROC Sells Offshore Mauritania Interests to Tullow (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Tullow Discovers Oil Offshore French Guiana (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Tullow Strikes Oil at Enyenra Well, Offshore Ghana (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Ghana: Seadrill Inks One-Year Contract for Ultra-Deepwater Newbuild West Leo (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Tullow Oil Interest in Kenya. (momentblogger.wordpress.com)
- Shell, Tullow find oil offshore French Guiana (marketwatch.com)
Strike Energy Secures Large Eagle Ford Shale Position
Thursday, April 28, 2011
• Strike is securing a 27.5% joint venture interest in leases covering approximately 8,500 acres along the Eagle Ford shale play in Texas, USA.
• The acreage is situated primarily within the oil window of the Eagle Ford.
• Strike’s net acreage position is approximately 2,300 acres, which based upon reported Eagle Ford shale recoveries, has a target potential of 7 to 14 million barrels of oil equivalent.
• Lease acquisition activities by the Joint Venture are expected to continue for several months.
Strike Energy announces that it is securing a substantial position in the Eagle Ford shale play in onshore Texas.
In the last two to three years the Eagle Ford shale play in Texas has emerged as one of the most attractive gas and oil shale plays in North America.
Strike has taken a 27.5% position in the Eagle Ford shale play through a joint venture (‘Eagle Ford Joint Venture’) with four Texas-based oil and gas exploration and production companies. Agreement has been reached and final documentation is being prepared.
Leasing activities by the operating partner in the newly formed joint venture have been progressing for some time. The total acreage under lease currently stands at approximately 8,500 acres, with Strike’s net position about 2,300 acres.
Leasing activities are expected to be ongoing for several months. The exact location of the area where lease acquisition is taking place will remain confidential until all of the targeted leases are secured because of the competitive nature of these activities. Once the final leasing position has been established a drilling program will be planned.
The leasing is focused within the interpreted oil fairway where drilling by other operators has resulted in published projected recoveries in the range of 450,000 to 1,000,000 barrels of oil equivalent per well based on 160 acre spacing. Similar recoveries, if extended onto leases secured by the Eagle Ford Joint Venture to date, provide a target potential of 7 to 14 million barrels oil equivalent from Strike’s current net acre position.
This Eagle Ford shale play is located northwest of Strike’s existing production and exploration activities focussed on the gas and condensate rich Wilcox trend.
The Eagle Ford shale opportunity provides Strike with exposure to one of the most significant new oil and gas discoveries in the USA for the past 40 years. Together with the production and exploration activities on the Wilcox trend, the Eagle Ford Joint Venture provides the Company with exceptional potential for growth.
Strike managing director Simon Ashton commenting on the new initiative said:
‘This new Eagle Ford Joint Venture is a key strategic move for Strike not only in expanding its Texas position but also providing greater exposure to oil.’
Continents of the World
Mb50's "Liquid Mud" Rant 