By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 17 -- State-owned Sonangol and Total E&P Angola reported that the Orquidea-2 appraisal well has confirmed and expanded the potential of the Orquidea oil discovery on Block 17 off Angola.
Drilled in 1,165 m of water 2 km from the discovery well, Orquidea-2 encountered the same Miocene objectives as did Orquidea-1 and also identified deeper Oligocene reservoir levels. Both the Tertiary Miocene and Oligocene objectives are oil-bearing.
The two-well success on the Orquidea structure, near the Lirio, Cravo, and Violeta finds, confirms the potential for development of a fourth production zone on Block 17, for which preliminary design is under way (see map, OGJ, Mar. 18, 2002, p. 53).
The production zone is in the northwestern area of the block and will complete the Girassol and Dalia zones, soon to be followed by the Pazflor production zone.
Total E&P, operator, has a 40% interest in the block. Partners include Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Ltd. 20%, BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. 16.67%, Statoil Angola Block 17 AS 13.33%, and Norsk Hydro Dezassete AS 10%. Sonangol is the block concessionaire.
