Angola’s upstream regulator the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) has signed a deal with energy majors TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil for the study and evaluation of the Free Areas of Blocks 17/06 and 32/21.
Aligned with national goals to maintain oil production above one million barrels per day, the agreement seeks to boost output in Angola’s deepwater basins. If the studies are successful, the ANPG will conclude the concession contracts for each of the Free Areas.
“We drilled the Dália Deep well [in Block 17] and the results were good. That is why we are prepared to assess the rest of the block, [specifically] in the deepest part,” stated Paulino Jerónimo, Chairman of the Board of Director, ANPG.
Block 17 – operated by TotalEnergies – features six FPSO vessels and has been producing since 2001. Block 32 has had 13 discoveries, with one billion barrels discovered to date. It also features the Kaombo development – operational since 2018. The Block 17 and 32 partners aim to identify new leads across both blocks.
According to Katrina Fisher, Managing Director, ExxonMobil Angola, “The agreement demonstrates our continues commitment to Angola, where we have operated for over 30 years. We look forward to expanding our collaboration through new opportunities as we work towards the shared goal of maintaining and increasing oil production.”
Future discoveries have the benefit of being tied into existing offshore infrastructure, enabling the companies to bring new barrels to production at a faster pace.
“We have the ambition to identify targets that can be drilled quickly. Thanks to our experience, knowledge of the area and the fruitful collaboration of our teams, I am confident that TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil are in the best position to write a new chapter,” stated Martin Deffontaines, Managing Director, TotalEnergies Angola.
