ExxonMobil
Begins Construction of Kizomba B Deepwater Development Offshore
West Africa
Posted: 19 February 2003
IRVING, Texas (BUSINESS WIRE) — ExxonMobil
Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Esso Exploration Angola
(Block 15) Limited (Esso), has started construction of another deepwater
development offshore West Africa. The $3 billion world-class Kizomba
B project in Angola's Block 15 is expected to recover nearly 1 billion
barrels of oil at a target production rate of 250,000 barrels per
day.
Kizomba B will develop the Kissanje and Dikanza discoveries in
water depths of 3,300-3,400 feet. The project will include the combination
of a surface wellhead platform and subsea wells tied back to a Floating
Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO will
have 2.2 million-barrel storage capacity. First oil is expected
by early 2006.
Commenting on the announcement, Morris Foster, president, ExxonMobil
Development Company, said, "The start of construction activities
for Kizomba B represents another important milestone for Esso in
West Africa. This and other developments being planned for Block
15 will provide significant additions to our liquids production
in the coming years and highlight the growing importance of Angola
to global energy supplies. As an industry leader in deepwater development,
ExxonMobil will use its worldwide experience and leading-edge technological
capabilities to develop Kizomba in a safe, environmentally sound
and cost-effective manner."
Esso has awarded facilities construction and fabrication contracts
valued at approximately $2 billion for key onshore and offshore
components of Kizomba B. The project will contribute substantial
direct and indirect benefits to the Angolan economy through local
project spending and employment.
An estimated 400 Esso operational personnel will be required for
the Kizomba development projects, the majority of whom are expected
to be Angolan nationals.
A significant training program is underway to develop and prepare
the national work force to support the new operations. Local jobs
also will be created in the Angolan port cities of Soyo and Lobito
to support construction and fabrication contracts.
Furthermore, Esso's Kizomba development activities will create
significant employment opportunities for Angolan workers in multiple
sectors of the economy, including transportation, logistics, maintenance
and food services.
ExxonMobil has a leading position in nearly all the major exploration
and production areas in the world. The company is also a leading
holder of deepwater acreage in the world's most attractive deepwater
regions, including West Africa where it has interests in 16 blocks
totaling 14 million gross acres. In Angola, Esso holds interests
in seven offshore deepwater blocks covering 8.4 million gross acres.
In 2001, the company started construction on the Kizomba A deepwater
development on Angola Block 15.
Kizomba A is expected to recover approximately one billion barrels
of oil from the Hungo and Chocalho fields, at a target production
rate of 250,000 barrels per day. First oil from Kizomba A is scheduled
for late 2004.
In June 2002, Esso announced that it had begun construction of
the Xikomba deepwater development on Block 15. Xikomba is expected
to recover approximately 100 million barrels of oil with a target
production rate of 80,000 barrels per day.
First oil from Xikomba is scheduled for late 2003, making it the
first oil production on Esso-operated Block 15.
In addition to Esso (Operator, 40 per cent), other participants
in Block 15 are BP Exploration (Angola) Limited (26.67 per cent),
Agip Angola Exploration B.V. (20 per cent) and Statoil Angola Block
15 AS (13.33 percent). Sonangol is the concessionaire.
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