Kizomba B tension leg platform arrives in Angola
Angola's state-owned oil company Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol) and Esso Exploration Angola
(Block 15) have reported the arrival of the Kizomba B tension leg platform (TLP) at Luanda.
The TLP is part of the $ 3.4 bn Kizomba B development on Block 15 about 350 km northwest of Luanda. It will be tied
to a floating production, storage, and offloading system with storage capacity of 2.2 mm barrel and serve as the
centre of operations for subsea wells in Kissanje and Dikanza oil fields. It is estimated that the Kizomba B fields,
lying in 1,000 metres of water, contain 1 bn barrel of oil.
The platform will be towed to the site by early March. Drilling is to start by the end of April. The platform weighs
30,000 tons, is 133 metres high, and will accommodate 100 persons. Kizomba B production is expected start in the
second half of 2005 and rise to a peak of 250,000 bpd.
Esso and its partners have announced 17 discoveries on Block 15, which has an estimated 4.5 bn boe (gross) of
reserves. Hungo, Marimba, and Dikanza were discovered in 1998; Chocalho and Xikomba in 1999; Mondo, Saxi, and Batuque
in 2000; Mbulumbumba, Vicango, and Mavacola in 2001; Reco Reco in 2002; Clochas, Kakocha, and Tchihumba in 2003; and
Bavuca in 2004.
Block 15 production started with the Xikomba development in November 2003. The $ 3.4 bn Kizomba A project, which is
developing Hungo and Chocalho fields, began production Aug. 7, 2004. Current oil production from Block 15 is 300,000
bpd. Planning and design for the Kizomba C project also are under way. Collectively the three Kizomba projects will
be developed at a total cost of $ 10 bn.
Esso, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, has a 40 % stake in Block 15. Other stakeholders are BP Exploration (Angola) 26.67
%, Agip Angola Exploration 20 %, and concessionaire Sonangol 13.33 %.
