16-02-09 State oil firm PetroVietnam's production arm, PVEP, will start commercial production from an oil field in Algeria in 2011 with initial production of 20,000 bpd, PVEP said.
PVEP has established a joint operating company with Algeria's state oil group Sonatrach and Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) to produce oil from the Bir Seba oil field in Algeria's Touggourt region, the company said.

Unlisted PVEP will hold a stake of 40 % in the project while Sonatrach would have 35 % and PTTEP Algeria, a subsidiary of the Thai firm, would own the rest.
PVEP said Bir Seba, which holds recoverable crude reserves of 180 mm barrels, would be put into commercial production by the fourth quarter of 2011. Output would be raised to 36,000 bpd by 2014.