Angola: ENI obtains authorisation to extend exploration of Block 15/06
ENI has obtained authorisation from the Angolan authorities for a 3-year extension to the exploration period for offshore Block 15/06, located in Angola’s deep waters 130 km east of Soyo town.
The original exploration period expired in November 2014, and Eni had requested an extension to complete its planned exploration activities. The company’s 3-year programme includes the drilling of 3 wells and 1,000 sq km of 3D seismic.
Block 15/06 was acquired in 2006 following an international tender. Eni has drilled 24 exploration and appraisal wells, discovering over 3 billion barrels of oil in place and 850 million of reserves.
Eni operates Block 15/06 with a 35% interest, with Sonangol EP as concessionaire. The other partners are Sonangol Pesquisa and Producao (35%), SSI Fifteen Ltd. (25%), and Falcon Oil Holding Angola SA (5%).
If exploration is successful, Eni says that possible new discoveries could be developed rapidly using existing production facilities. The extension also includes an area adjacent to Block 15/06 encompassing the Reco-Reco discovery, which holds an estimated 100 million barrels of oil in place.
In November 2014, Eni started production from the West Hub development project, near Block 15/06, just 4 years after the declaration of commercial discovery. Block 15/06 also includes the East Hub development project, which is already under development and is expected to start production in 2017.
Again in 2014, Eni also discovered the Ochigufu exploration prospect off the Angolan coast, estimated to hold 300 million barrels of oil in place. It will be connected to West Hub by 2017. Source: Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor.
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