Offshore news

CGG geoscientists have been sifting through the evidence to re-evaluate opportunities offshore East Africa and in the West Indian Ocean.

“The transaction adds production for the first time to Lukoil’s West African portfolio, and fits with the Russian company’s aims of developing its offshore expertise and grow its presence outside its Russian stronghold," says Jean-Baptiste Bouzard, senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

The initial deployment is expected in 2021 on a 20 000-psi well in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Dorado-2 appraisal well is in Commonwealth waters approximately 160 km north of Port Hedland, Australia, and 2 km away from the Dorado-1 discovery, made in July last year.

The combined flow from both wells during a 72-hour production test earlier this week reached and maintained the planned production rate of 20 000 bpd.

The Marine XII license covering 571 km2 is located on the continental shelf of the Republic of Congo 20 km from the shore with the sea depth of 20 - 90 m.

As part of the agreement, Sonangol, Angola’s state oil company, will receive a 10% equity interest.

The discovery was made at Gladden Deep in Mississippi Canyon block 800.

"Angola is open for business", said Paulino Jerónimo, CEO of the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels.

A fully equipped laboratory in Houston, Texas, will provide calibration services for pressure, temperature, conductivity and sound velocity sensors.