Gabon green-lights amended Tortue oil field development plan

Gabonese government has approved the amended Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Tortue oil field located offshore Gabon as part of the Dussafu Production Sharing Contract (PSC). 

The Tortue structure is one of four existing oil discoveries in the Dussafu Exclusive Exploitation Area (EEA) in which the operator, BW Energy Gabon (BWEG), holds 91.667 percent while its partner Panoro holds 8.33 percent interest. BW Energy is a subsidiary of the FPSO operator, BW Offshore.

Panoro Energy on Monday revealed that the updated preliminary oil reserves review of the Tortue oil field by an independent reserves auditor showed an increase in oil reserves at the field. Namely, Tortue mid case reserve estimates increased by over 80% compared to previous independent reviews.

In a separate operational update on Monday, Panoro said that the amended Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Tortue oil field has been approved by the Gabonese regulator, the Direction Général de Hydrocarbures (DGH).

In addition, the Borr Drilling-owned Borr Novre jack-up drilling rig, previously hired by BW Energy, has recently arrived in Gabon, with the drilling operations to start in the first quarter of 2018. The Norve, a Pacific Class 400 jack-up constructed at PPL Shipyard in Singapore in 2011, was acquired by Borr in May 2017 from Transocean together with the rest of Transocean’s jack-up fleet.

The rig will drill two horizontal oil production wells and one appraisal sidetrack to the north to prepare for Tortue Phase 2 development. The two production wells will be tied back to a leased FPSO via subsea trees and flowlines. BW will use its own FPSO, which previously operated on the Azurite field, for the Tortue development. The unit, which is currently in Keppel shipyard in preparation for deployment, has been renamed to BW Adolo FPSO. First oil is planned for 2H 2018.

Depending on results of phase 1 and appraisal well, phase 2 of drilling at Tortue may consist of two further development wells to increase production.

Phase 2 drilling starts in 4Q 2019 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 1Q 2020. It will contain one horizontal well in Gamba reservoir and one horizontal well in Dentale D6.

According to Panoro, next successive phases would tie back existing discoveries or further yet to be discovered resources nearby.

John Hamilton, CEO of Panoro, said “ To complement our updated independent reserve review, we are pleased to report operational progresses at Dussafu. The amended FDP is a very important milestone for Panoro, and with drilling operations expected to start shortly, we remain on track to start producing at Dussafu during 2H 2018.”

Offshore Energy Today Staff