16-07-09 Sonangol, Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (the national oil company of Angola), and Maersk Oil Angola (operator), have successfully completed drilling of the Chissonga-1 exploration well with positive results.
The Chissonga-1 well is located in the western sector of Block 16 in 1,230 metres water depth, some 315 km northwest of Luanda, and was drilled to a total depth of 4,725 metres using the Larsen Deep Venture drillship.

The well is Maersk Oil's first operated deep water well. One production test was conducted, flowing 6,850 barrels of 36 degrees API oil per day on a 36/64 inch choke. Further evaluation of well results is in progress. Chissonga-1 is the first of a three-well exploration drilling commitment in Block 16, and was drilled to test a post salt objective.
Sonangol is the Concessionaire of Block 16. The partners in Block 16 are Maersk Oil Angola (50 %), Sonangol P&P (20 %), Odebrecht Oil & Gas (15 %) and Devon Energy (15 %).

Head of Maersk Oil Exploration, Lars Nydahl Jorgensen, says: "Although it is too early to determine whether the discovery can form the basis of a commercial field development, we are encouraged by the results."