Italian explorer ENI has reported starting production of the Cuica Field, in Block 15/06 of the Angolan deep offshore.
The company’s release does not provide the output figure, but it explains that the field is being produced via the Armada Olombendo Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.
First oil came on July 30, 2021, “just over four months from discovery”, the company says.
The Cuica field was discovered by the exploration well Cuica 1 in March 2021. It is located in a water depth of 500 metres, approximately three kilometres from the Olombendo FPSO. The early production of the development, that will increase and sustain the Olombendo FPSO production plateau, includes an oil producer well and a water injection well, tied back subsea to the existing Cabaça North subsea production system, thus exploiting the full potential of available infrastructures in the area.
The Armada Olombendo FPSO has a production capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day and is designed to operate during her production life with zero discharge. Besides Cuica, whose production rate is in line with expectations, the Olombendo is now receiving and treating the production of Cabaça, CabaçaSouth East, and UM8 fields for a total of 12 wells and 5 manifolds at a water depth ranging from 400 to 500 metres. The Olombendo FPSO will also receive production from the Cabaça North field in 4Q 2021.
Block 15/06 is operated by ENI Angola with a 36.84% share. Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção (36.84%) and SSI Fifteen Limited (26.32%) compose the rest of the Joint Venture. Further to block 15/06, ENI is operator of exploration blocks Cabinda North, Cabinda Centro, 1/14 and 28, as well as of the New Gas Consortium (NGC). In addition, ENI has stakes in the non-operated blocks 0 (Cabinda), 3/05, 3/05A, 14, 14 K/A-IMI, 15, and in Angola LNG.
