Global oil and gas major Chevron has commenced production at the Lifua-A project, a marginal field located in Block 0 offshore Angola.
The announcement was made by Angola’s national concessionaire and oil and gas regulatory body, the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) on March 13. According to the ANPG, development of the field will be phased, with the installation of the fixed metallic platform, stacked template structure platform as well as six production wells and four injectors representing the project’s first of three ongoing phases.
“The Lifua-A platform is interconnected with the existing facilities in the Takula Area and is expected to produce a total of 6,500 barrels of oil per day from the Vermelha and Likouala reservoirs,” the ANPG indicated in a statement, adding, “The development strategy for this oil field is to apply innovative solutions, using existing facilities and services to reduce development and operating costs, in order to increase the economy of small discoveries of petroleum found in the current Development Areas.”
Situated in Block 0 at a water depth of 70 meters, located approximately 23 km off the coast of Angola’s Cabinda Province and in proximity to the Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC)-operated Malongo crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas terminal, the development strategy for the oil field will make use of existing facilities and services to reduce development and operational costs.
“The equipment was 100% manufactured in Angola, applying low-cost concepts and technologies with a short manufacturing time,” the ANPG stated.
Additionally, development of the Lifua-A project will benefit from fiscal incentives granted under Angola’s marginal field – defined as a field with less than 300 million barrels in proven oil reserves – legislation, with the southern African country’s Executive Decree 328/18 having granted marginal field status to the Lifua, 83-N, Kambala, and N’Dola Sul fields – all situated in Block 0 – in November 2019.
Boasting over 20 producing fields, Block 0 represents one of Angola’s most prolific assets, wherein Chevron – through its Angolan subsidiary, CABGOC – is currently engaged in the development of several brownfield projects including the Sanha Lean Gas Connection project, which will supply feedstock to the Angola Liqufied Natural Gas project and Soyo II Combined Cycle Power Plant.
Block 0 is operated by Chevron through CABGOC with a 39.2% stake; Angola’s national oil company Sonangol EP controlling a 41% interest; while oil and gas majors TotalEnergies and Eni hold the remaining 10% and 9.8% interest, respectively.
