Eni makes light oil find in Angola's Cuica prospect

Image: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering

Italian exploration company, Eni, said it had encountered an 80-metre total column of reservoir of light oil (38°API) when a deviated well drilled in the Cuica-1 NFW prospect by the Libongos drillship reached a total vertical depth of 4,100 metres. The discovery well is going to be sidetracked updip to be placed in an optimal position as a producer well. Data indicates an expected production capacity of around 10,000 barrels of oil per day.

Cuica is the second significant oil discovery inside the existing Cabaça development area and close to the FPSO Armada Olombendo (East Hub). The wellhead location, intentionally placed close to East Hub’s subsea network, will allow a fast-track tie-in of the exploration well. Production is expected to start within six months.

This is the first commercial discovery in block 15/06 since the Covid-19 pandemic and the oil price drop last year.

The company has received a three-year extension for the exploration period of block 15/06 until November 2023.

The Block 15/06 Joint Venture consists of Eni (operator, 36.8421%), Sonangol P&P (36.8421%), and SSI Fifteen Ltd (26.3158%).