05-01-00 Coflexip Stena Offshore announced that, in a consortium with Single Buoy Moorings (SBM) and ABB Offshore Systems, it has successfully achieved first oil from the Kuito field offshore Angola for Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Ltd. only 15 months after the award of the contract, making it the fastest cycle time of any project of its kind in West Africa.
In September 1998 Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC) awarded the contract for Phase 1A to the Consortium. CABGOC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chevron Group, is acting as operator (with 31 % interest). The remaining interests in the field are held by the Angolan national oil company Sonangol (20 %), Agip Angola Exploracao BV (20 %), Total Angola (20 %) and Petrogral Exploracao (9 %).
In May 1999, Phase 1 b was awarded to the same Consortium by means of a variation to the original contract.
The Kuito field is located in Block 14, one of the most promising offshore Angola, at a depth of approximately 400 m. The initial development included a first Phase 1A entailing the drilling and completion of 12 subsea production wells producing through horizontal trees, jumpers, and a subsea production manifold connected to the Kuito FPSO plus the completion of a gas re-injection well. Phase 1 b consists of one subsea water injection centre with 8 water injection wells, a manifold, an injection line and a control umbilical to the FPSO.
Coflexip Stena Offshore's workscope included the design, engineering, supply and installation from its own vessel, the CSO Installer, and a chartered vessel, the Smit Pioneer, of approximately 20 km of flexible flowlines and risers and 15 km of umbilicals, some incorporating steel tubes. These flexibles and umbilicals were tied-back to the Kuito FPSO. CSO also installed a range of subsea equipment including a 12 well production manifold.
Pierre Marie Valentin, Chairman and CEO of the CSO Group stated: "Successful execution of the Kuito Phase 1A and 1 b projects represent, due to their size and complexity, a major achievement for the CSO Group. This achievement has only been made possible by the total dedication and commitment of the project team and CSO manufacturing and operational entities, as well as full co-operation with the Consortium partners, to enable our client CABGOC to reach its objectives. By achieving first oil within fifteen months and on budget, we are proud to have demonstrated our ability to manage a complex and major project in West Africa to the full satisfaction of our client and its partners".

World leader in the subsea oilfield service industry, Coflexip Stena Offshore provides a wide range of services (project management, engineering design, procurement, subsea pipeline and umbilical laying, construction and maintenance work) and products (design and manufacture of flexible pipes, control umbilicals and remotely operated vehicles).
The Coflexip Stena Offshore Group, headquartered in Paris, employs approximately 4,000 employees spread over five continents, with subsidiaries in Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.