Yet another oil discovery – the sixth – has been made by operator BP in block 31 off Angola, where Statoil has a 13.33 per cent interest.
It has been named Ceres-1, report BP and Angolan state oil company Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol).
The first four discoveries in this acreage – Plutão, Saturno, Marte and Venus – are close together, and the licensees are considering a unified development.
Announced in mid-February, the fifth discovery is Palas-1 and lies 62 kilometres south-east of Plutão.
Ceres-1 is 32 kilometres south-east of Plutão and 31 kilometres north-east of Palas.
The latest discovery well was drilled in 1,633 metres of water to a total measured depth of 4,334 metres by the semi-submersible Leiv Eiriksson.
“This find fits well with the series already proven, which adds up to another important door-opener for possible new developments in block 31,” says Morten Sola.
He is Statoil’s exploration manager for western Africa in the International Exploration & Production business area.
In addition to block 31, the group has a 13.33 per cent interest in Angolan deepwater blocks 15 and 17.