Eni starts new production well in Vandumbu field offshore Angola

Eni has started the new VAN-102 production well in the Vandumbu field, which is located in the West Hub of Block 15/06, offshore Angola.

Block 15/06 is developed by a joint venture (JV) formed by Eni, Sonangol P&P and SSI Fifteen.

The start-up of the new well located 350km north-west of Luanda and 130km west of Soyo took place through the N’Goma floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, achieving a performance of 13,000 barrels.

It follows the start-up of the second Subsea Multiphase Boosting System (SMBS).

According to Eni, the new well is another step in the development of the Vandumbu field that was launched on 29 November last year.

The field is planned to be completed in the first quarter of this year with the start-up of the water injection well.

Along with another production well in the Mpungi field, Block 15/06 production is expected to reach a total of 170,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boed).

These start-ups represent the progress adopted by Eni in the phased and clustered development strategy for the block.

A total of eight fields became operational since November 2014 and production in the West Hub started with the Sangos field.

Eni currently has an equity production of 150,000boed in Angola.

Last December, the company started production from the Vandumbu field in Block 15/06 through West Hub N’Goma FPSO.

First oil from the field was achieved in November, three months ahead of schedule.