11 November 2011, Sweetcrude, Abuja, Nigeria – French oil giant, TOTAL recently announced that its Nigerian subsidiary (Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited; TEPNG) in joint venture with NNPC has discovered additional oil accumulation in its offshore mining license (OML-102).
A statement released by the company disclosed that the pronouncement is based on the drilling and testing result of a well drilled recently to penetrate the northern panel of the previously drilled Etisong Main Pool. The well was drilled by 80m of water depth to a total depth of 2387mMD (-2l06m vertical depth) by the sea Oritsetimeyin jack up rig.
The well encountered three main hydrocarbon bearing intervals and confirms the extension of the reservoir sands discovered previously in the Etisong Main structure by Etisong-l well, drilled in the last quarter of 2008 some 4km to the south. The extension of the reservoir to the northern panel of Etisong Main is a significant exploration result, as it increases significantly the potential of the Etisong pool.
One of the 3 penetrated reservoirs was tested and produced at about 8,500 barrels of oil per day through a 60164″ choke. Oil quantities of about 40° API are very similar to those of Etisong-l well.
These results are signalling good feasibility of having good development pole in the south-west of Of on field. The Etisong/Etisong north discoveries, located some l5km S-SE of the OFON producing field, could qualify as either a tie-in development project to OFON, or could merit a stand-alone development depending on results of ongoing detailed field stakes evaluation and further appraisal results of the zone. Having operated in Nigeria for more than 50 years, NNPC/TEPNG is committed to delivering on its obligations and projects.
The NNPC/TEPNG subsidiary in Nigeria is very focused on continuing exploration activities in its JV offshore blocks as its contribution to Government’s determination to renewing reserves and the aspiration of attaining the 40Bbls objective. In this regard, an extensive (around1000km2) 3D-HD seismic was acquired on the OML-100/102 area in 2011 to improve seismic imagery within the targets. Plan is underway to drill another exploration well in the area within the 2011 window to confirm expectation of good oil and gas potential in the South-Eastern sector of OML-l02. Other exploration initiatives are in progress in the deep-offshore licenses of NNPC/TEPNG JV.
Further to these exploration initiatives, the company is striving to sustain production from all its JV blocks both on land (OML-58) and in the offshore fields (OMLs 99,102 and 100). In these regards, several production optimization projects (field upgrades and in-fill drilling initiatives) are in progress. Gas production from these fields is valorized through supply to NLNG in Bonny.
TUPNI & partners have demonstrated excellent performance in project delivery recently when their first operated deep offshore field-AKPO (OML-130) was put on production in 2009. This project delivery was globally acknowledged for being fully delivered on schedule. The AKPO field production has been ramped-up to the design plateau level. The development of a second deep offshore field operated by the same subsidiary is progressing at a good pace with the FPSO sail from construction yard to offshore Nigeria scheduled for July-20ll. The Usan Field is expected to be put on production by the first quarter of 2012.
Development activities and studies on a third deep-offshore field (EGINA) within the OML-130 area are fully in progress in order to meet a production start-up target by 2014.
All these projects are being carried out with utmost consideration to industrial safety and with full adherence to Nigerian content initiatives. NNPC/TEPNG is committed to improving the local competencies as far as development of oil and gas is concerned in Nigeria.
Aside from its operated ventures in Nigeria, NNPC/TEPNG is very involved in many other JV and PSC associations in which it has significant equity shares.
