US-based Marathon Oil has produced the first gas from its new Alba B3 compression platform in offshore Equatorial Guinea (EG).
Production from the platform will allow the company to convert around 130 million barrels of oil equivalent of undeveloped reserves and increase its remaining developed reserve base in EG.
Marathon Oil Conventional vice-president Mitch Little said: "The Alba B3 compression project will allow us to maintain plateau production for the next two years, mitigating base decline, while extending the Alba Field's life by up to eight years.
"I want to highlight that the platform was completed on time and within budget, reflecting strong project management and a close collaboration with the operations team in EG."
The company collaborated with Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG), which served as the general contractor to execute the Alba B3 compression project that involved engineering and construction in four countries.
The platform flare and bridge structures have been fabricated by an Equatoguinean construction firm as part of Marathon Oil's proposal to build local capacity within the country.
Marathon E G Production operates the Alba Field with a 65% working interest, while the remaining 35% is owned by Noble Energy.
Condensate and natural gas from the Alba field are extracted and sent to the onshore gas plant at Punta Europa for processing in various products, including propane and butane.
Marathon Oil reported net proved reserves of 2.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent in North America, Europe and Africa at the end of last year.
