Total brings online short-cycle project off Angola

French oil major Total has started production from the Zinia Phase 2 short-cycle project located in Block 17 offshore Angola.

Total, the operator of Block 17, announced on Thursday the start of production from the Zinia Phase 2 short-cycle project, connected to the existing Pazflor FPSO.

The project includes the drilling of nine wells and is expected to reach a production of 40,000 barrels of oil per day by mid-2022.

Located in water depths from 600 to 1,200 meters and about 150 kilometers from the Angolan coast, Zinia Phase 2 resources are estimated at 65 million barrels of oil.

According to Total, the development of this project was carried out according to schedule and for a CAPEX more than 10 per cent below budget, representing a saving of $150 million.

Nicolas Terraz, President Africa, Exploration and Production at Total, said: “The successful start-up of this project, despite the challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic, demonstrates Total’s commitment to ensure a sustainable output on Block 17, for which the production license was recently extended until 2045.

“Zinia Phase 2 project reflects the quality of short-cycle projects in Angola with a high return on investment”.

Paulino Jerónimo, CEO of the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency, commented, “Zinia Phase 2 is a key project for Angola that comes at the right time to sustain the production of the country. We welcome our collaboration with Total in Angola, that keeps investing with its partners in the development of the country oil resources”.

Block 17 is operated by Total with a 38 per cent stake, alongside Equinor (22.16 per cent), ExxonMobil (19 per cent), BP (15.84 per cent), and Sonangol P&P (5 per cent).

The contractor group operates four FPSOs in the main production areas of the block, namely Girassol, Dalia, Pazflor, and CLOV.