Total’s 'Disappointment' with Angola LNG adds to output gap

Angola LNG, a $10 billion LNG plant halted in April due to a leak, has proved to be a disappointment for Total.

“The real concern is that we are at least one year late and even much more than that in terms of start of production,” Yves-Louis Darricarrere, head of upstream, said in an interview.

Angola LNG, which produces the super-chilled fuel for spot deliveries to destinations from South Korea to Brazil, is expected to restart in the middle of next year. The plant has experienced halts since production started last June after an 18 month delay caused by several fires and accidents.

Total, with a 13.6% stake, is “missing” about 25,000 boepd in natural gas due to the halt, Darricarrere said. “It’s a disappointment, but at the same time for us it’s marginal.” The French company has sent experts to the site, he said.

The halt adds to output gaps this year for Total at Kashagan in Kazakhstan, where leaky pipelines must be replaced, and the loss of a concession in Abu Dhabi. The company targets increased production over the coming years, a goal that will be helped by the start of production at the Clov field off Angola in June, 2014.

Angola LNG was running at about 50% of planned capacity before the latest incident because the composition of the plant’s associated gas supply required additional equipment, Chevron, the operator and largest shareholder, has said.

The April incident took place during the commissioning and testing phase as part of a ramp up to full LNG production.

Chevron holds 36.4% of the project, with Sonangol EP owning 22.8%. Total, BP and Eni each hold 13.6%, according to Angola LNG’s website.

Providing useful resources, articles and writings on crude oil, other petroleum products, energy and gas. By Giftelyon Multi-Sevices Int'l Ltd and services, UK, online.

Sonde seeks alternatives for Joint Oil block in North Africa

Sonde Resources reported the following operational updates of North Africa.

In March 2014, Sonde retained Taylor-DeJongh to initiate a process to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value with regard to the Joint Oil Block. The process has included discussions with in excess of twenty international petroleum entities and financial institutions. Several interested parties have executed confidentiality agreements, met with management and staff and are evaluating the data provided in the virtual data room.

The preparations for drilling the Fisal-1 well have progressed. All long lead materials (casing and drilling support material) have been ordered and initial deliveries have arrived in Sfax, Tunisia (shore base).
 
Preparations are underway to perform the site surveys in anticipation of commencing drilling operations in early Q4 of 2014.

The 3D seismic survey acquired in late 2013 has been processed and initial evaluation of the data confirms the potential nature of the Hadaf structure in Libyan waters. Detailed interpretation work of the processed seismic data is underway.

Providing useful resources, articles and writings on crude oil, other petroleum products, energy and gas. By Giftelyon Multi-Sevices Int'l Ltd and services, UK, online.

CAMAC Energy spuds Oyo-8 development well offshore Nigeria

CAMAC Energy reported that the Oyo-8 development well was spudded on June 15, 2014. The Oyo-8 well is located offshore Nigeria in OML 120, where CAMAC Energy is the operator and owns a 100% working interest.

This development well lies within the Oyo field, which was one of the first deepwater oil discoveries made in Nigeria. The Oyo field is located approximately 75 km offshore Nigeria in water depths of approximately 300 m.

Oyo-8 will be drilled by the Northern Offshore Energy Searcher drillship to a total depth of approximately 1,800 m in water depths of approximately 310 m, and will produce from the Pliocene reservoir. The Oyo-8 well is expected to commence production in the Q4 and, together with the Oyo-7 well which will be completed subsequent to the Oyo-8 well, is expected to significantly increase production from the Oyo Field.

Providing useful resources, articles and writings on crude oil, other petroleum products, energy and gas. By Giftelyon Multi-Sevices Int'l Ltd and services, UK, online.

East African energy boom investments to take focus in budgets

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania plan to allocate money in their annual budgets to spur investment in infrastructure to exploit oil and natural gas from deposits that companies including Tullow Oil are developing.

Ugandan and Kenyan oil discoveries, made in 2006 and 2012 respectively, and new gas finds off the coast of Tanzania that have boosted reserves to as much as 46 Tcf have seen East Africa become a frontier for petroleum exploration.

The three countries, along with Rwanda, which are all members of the East African Community, will present their budget statements for the financial year starting July 1.

The Kenyan Finance Ministry said in its 2014 budget policy statement that the government wants to “fast track” building a pipeline to export the crude.

Kenya also expects to increase its spending on infrastructure by 15% $2.9 billion in 2014-15 from a year earlier, according to the Treasury’s budget policy statement.

Tanzania is building the $1.23 billion Mtwara gas pipeline project with a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, while Statoil and BG Group, are working on a project to build a LNG export plant. The government plans to present new natural gas rules to parliament in November aimed at helping the country get more benefit from its natural resources.

Providing useful resources, articles and writings on crude oil, other petroleum products, energy and gas. By Giftelyon Multi-Sevices Int'l Ltd and services, UK, online.

Exxon reports fire, oil spill at Nigeria terminal

Exxon Mobil Corp. said thunderstorms caused a tank fire June 27 and an oil spill today, June 29, at the Mobil Producing Nigeria Qua Iboe Terminal it operates in Akwa Ibom state.

Offshore production and loading of oil continue, the Irving, Texas-based company said in an emailed statement. No fatalities or injuries were reported. The amount of oil lost to the fire and spill hasn’t been calculated, the company said.

Lightning ignited the tank and the fire was extinguished by noon local time June 27, according to the statement.

Lightning knocked out power to the terminal again today, resulting in a spill. Emergency response systems were activated to contain it, shoreline restoration has begun and relevant authorities and community leaders notified, according to the statement.

Providing useful resources, articles and writings on crude oil, other petroleum products, energy and gas. By Giftelyon Multi-Sevices Int'l Ltd and services, UK, online.