BP Makes Eleventh Oil Discovery in the Ultra-Deep Water Block 31 Angola
Release date:
23 October 2006
Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol) and BP Exploration (Angola) Limited today announced the ‘Titania’ oil discovery in ultra-deepwater Block 31, offshore Angola. Titania is the eleventh discovery that BP has drilled in Block 31. The well is located 23 kilometres northwest of the Hebe discovery, announced in Q4 2005.
Titania was drilled by the Jack Ryan drill ship, in a water depth of 2,152 metres, some 385 kilometres northwest of Luanda, and reached a total depth of 5,339 metres below sea level. This is the second discovery in Block 31 where the exploration well has been drilled through salt to access the oil-bearing sandstone reservoir beneath.
The well was tested at an operationally restricted flow rate of 2,045 standard barrels of oil a day (stb/d) through a 20/64 inch choke.
Sonangol is the concessionaire of Block 31. BP Exploration (Angola) Limited as operator holds 26.67 per cent. The other interest owners in Block 31 are Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Block 31) Limited (25 per cent), Sonangol E.P. (20 percent), Statoil Angola A.S. (13.33 per cent), Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Limited (10 per cent) and TEPA (BLOCK 31) LIMITED, (a subsidiary of the Total Group) with 5 per cent.
Titania was drilled by the Jack Ryan drill ship, in a water depth of 2,152 metres, some 385 kilometres northwest of Luanda, and reached a total depth of 5,339 metres below sea level. This is the second discovery in Block 31 where the exploration well has been drilled through salt to access the oil-bearing sandstone reservoir beneath.
The well was tested at an operationally restricted flow rate of 2,045 standard barrels of oil a day (stb/d) through a 20/64 inch choke.
Sonangol is the concessionaire of Block 31. BP Exploration (Angola) Limited as operator holds 26.67 per cent. The other interest owners in Block 31 are Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Block 31) Limited (25 per cent), Sonangol E.P. (20 percent), Statoil Angola A.S. (13.33 per cent), Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Limited (10 per cent) and TEPA (BLOCK 31) LIMITED, (a subsidiary of the Total Group) with 5 per cent.
Notes to Editors
- 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. BP has interests in four blocks with operated interests in two.
- Operatorship of Block 31 was awarded to BP Exploration (Angola) Limited in May 1999. The block covers an area of 5,349 square kilometres and lies in water depths of between 1,500 and 2,500 metres.
- BP also has operated interests (BP 50.00% equity) in Block 18 where the Greater Plutonio Project is currently being developed and is due to come on stream in 2007.
- BP has non-operated interests in Block 15, operated by Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited (BP 26.67 % equity) and in Block 17 operated by Total (BP 16.67 % equity).
- Oil deposits are commonly associated with salt throughout the world; Angola is no exception. Salt distorts the seismic image and as a consequence, salt-affected areas require significant amounts of additional seismic processing and interpretation prior to drilling.
Further information:
Name: Robert Wine
Office: BP Press Office
Location: London
Phone : +44 (0) 20 7496 4827
Office: BP Press Office
Location: London
Phone : +44 (0) 20 7496 4827
Name: Amilcar da Costa
Office: Luanda
Location: BP Angola
Phone : +244 2 22637408
Office: Luanda
Location: BP Angola
Phone : +244 2 22637408
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