ExxonMobil scores 13th deepwater Angola discovery

Angola's deepwater Block 15 is beginning to rival nearby Block 17 in field discoveries with ExxonMobil revealing the 13th oilfield find in the prolific block by its subsidiary, Esso Exploration Angola and Sociedade Nacionale de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol).
Reco-1, the discovery well drilled by the semi-submersible Pride North America, encountered an oil-bearing reservoir that flowed at a test rate of 2,640 bpd. It was drilled in 4,718 ft (1,438 meters) of water to a total depth of 12,460 ft (3,798 meters). It is located 240 miles (385 km) northwest of Luanda.

Esso and Sonangol have previously announced 12 Block 15 discoveries with Hungo, Kissanje, Marimba, and Dikanza in 1998; Chocalho and Xikomba in 1999; Mondo, Saxi, and Batuque in 2000; and Mbulumbumba, Vicango, and Mavacola in 2001. This is the first discovery in the block this year.
ExxonMobil said in announcing this latest discovery that Block 15 represents a world-class development opportunity with the potential to recover in excess of 3.5 bn oil equivalent barrel. In August 2001, the company announced that it had begun construction of the largest deepwater development offshore West Africa. The $ 3 bn Kizomba A project is expected to recover approximately 1 bn barrel of oil at a target production rate of 250,000 bpd. First oil from Kizomba A is scheduled for 2004.

In June 2002, ExxonMobil announced that it had begun construction of the Xikomba deepwater development in Block 15. Xikomba is expected to recover approximately 100 mm barrel of oil with a target production rate of 80,000 bpd. First oil from Xikomba is scheduled for late 2003.
In addition to Esso (the operator, with 40 % interest), other participants in Block 15 are BP (26.67 %), ENI Agip (20 %), and Statoil (13.33 %). Sonangol is the concessionaire.