Production kicks off on ADNOC’s Belbazem block
ADNOC announced the start of crude oil production from its Belbazem offshore block, operated by Al Yasat Petroleum. Al Yasat is a joint venture between ADNOC and China National Petroleum Corp. Operational synergies with adjacent fields were leveraged to develop the block, and artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization helped to enhance efficiency and safety while reducing emissions and cost.
Production capacity at Belbazem is set to progressively ramp up to 45,000 bpd of light crude and 27 mmscfd of associated gas, contributing to ADNOC’s target of reaching 5 million bpd by 2027 and enabling gas self-sufficiency for the UAE.
Al Yasat is pioneering the implementation of AI modeling and analysis tools across its offshore concession area. The Belbazem block uses WellInsight, an AI tool developed by AIQ, to analyze reservoir data and manage operations for enhanced safety and performance. The block will also integrate advanced technologies already deployed at Al Yasat’s Bu Haseer offshore field to optimize production and reservoir management.
Synergies were achieved on the Belbazem block by utilizing the facilities of Satah Al Razboot, an offshore field operated by ADNOC Offshore, resulting in cost savings and reduced environmental impact.
Located 120 km northwest of Abu Dhabi city, the Belbazem block consists of three offshore fields – Belbazem, Umm Al Salsal and Umm Al Dholou.
Analyses ongoing for new exploration well in Austria
Drilling operations at the Welchau-1 well in Austria concluded in late March. Earlier that month, MCF Energy had announced a gas and condensate discovery at Welchau-1, which was drilled by the RED E200 rig. The well had encountered 115 m of rich gas, with strong evidence of natural fracturing. A hydrocarbon seal was confirmed above the primary target, mitigating a major risk with the project. The well was drilled to a total depth of 1,733.1 m and has been cased and temporarily shut in for future testing. A program of extensive analysis is now under way on well data.
The Welchau exploration project has received extensive exposure in Austria due to its proximity to a nature reserve. Environmental clearance was given following a comprehensive review process.
Tyra hub producing again in Danish North Sea following multi-year redevelopment
Production has restarted at the Tyra hub in the Danish North Sea after a major redevelopment. At plateau, the new Tyra hub will produce 5.7 mmscm of gas and 22,000 bpd of condensate, once again making Denmark self-sufficient and a net exporter of natural gas. TotalEnergies operates the Tyra field on behalf of the Danish Underground Consortium, a partnership among TotalEnergies (43.2%), BlueNord (36.8%) and Nordsøfonden (20%).
Discovered in 1968, Tyra is located 225 km west of the coast of Esbjerg. In September 2019, gas production was suspended to allow for a redevelopment project. Following the decommissioning of the previous Tyra facilities, eight new platform topsides, two jackets and six bridges were installed. As part of this project, 98.5% of the materials recovered from the retired installations were reused or recycled.
Gas from the Tyra hub is delivered to Europe through two export pipelines to Nybro in Denmark and Den Helder in the Netherlands.
Deepwater Asgard contract extended for 1 year in GOM
Transocean announced a 365-day contract extension for the Deepwater Asgard drillship with an independent operator in the US Gulf of Mexico. The program is expected to commence in June 2024 in direct continuation of the rig’s current program and includes additional services. The total contract value is approximately $195 million.
Noble rigs win additional work in Norway, Philippines
Noble has been awarded a one-well contract with DNO Norge for the ultra-harsh environment jackup Noble Invincible to drill an exploration well on PL1086, offshore Norway. The contract is expected to commence in August, with an estimated duration of 40 days.
The new contract will be executed during an option period in the rig’s existing commitment to Aker BP under the Jackup Alliance. The contract requires a two-week period for BOP upgrades and is expected to resume operations in October.
Separately, the Noble Viking drillship scored a contract with Prime Energy to drill three wells in the Malampaya-Camago field offshore Philippines. The firm contract will span a minimum of 140 days, and there is one option well with an estimated minimum of 20 days. This contract is expected to begin in Q2 2025, in direct continuation of the rig’s current contract in Malaysia.
Agreement reached on Equatorial Guinea’s Block EG-23
Panoro Energy reached an agreement with the government of Equatorial Guinea on the key terms and conditions for the award of Block EG-23. The Heads of Terms agreement signed by Panoro, GEPetrol and the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons paves the way for a period of negotiations to finalize a production-sharing contract and the development of a work program and budget.
Block EG-23 is located offshore Equatorial Guinea north of Bioko Island and adjacent to the producing Alba gas and condensate field. It covers a surface area of approximately 600 sq km in water depths ranging from 50-100 m. To date, 19 wells have been drilled on Block EG-23 that resulted in seven hydrocarbon discoveries – four oil, two gas and one gas/condensate. Panoro’s evaluation indicates that a range of plays exist on the block. The company has identified a number of prospects, in addition to the existing discoveries. An initial work program will likely focus on reprocessing existing seismic data before embarking on drilling.
Successful appraisal completed on PEL 83 in Namibia’s Orange Basin
The AVO-1 appraisal target, part of the ongoing exploration campaign on blocks 2813A and 2814B in Namibia’s Orange Basin, found the same pressure regime as in the Mopane-1X discovery well located around 8 km to the east. This confirms its lateral extension. Galp Energia will continue to analyze the acquired data to assess the commerciality of the discoveries.
The blocks are governed by Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 83. It is located north of PEL 39, home to Shell’s basin-opening discoveries at Graff-1, La Rona-1 and Jonker-1. Additionally, it is located north and east of PEL 56, where TotalEnergies announced its giant oil discovery at Venus-1.
Sintana Energy, Custos Energy and NAMCOR all have working interest in PEL 83.
Bluefin marks another discovery for ExxonMobil on Guyana’s Stabroek block
ExxonMobil Guyana announced a discovery at Bluefin in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana. It is the company’s first discovery of 2024.
The Bluefin well, drilled by the Stena Drillmax in 4,244 ft of water, encountered approximately 197 ft of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone. It is located approximately 8.5 km southeast of the Sailfin-1 well, in the southeastern portion Stabroek block.
The Bluefin discovery joins the more than 30 others already made on the Stabroek block since 2015.
Bohai Sea yields major new oil discovery for CNOOC
CNOOC announced a major discovery at the Qinhuangdao 27-3 field in north-central Bohai Sea, adding more than 100 million tons of oil equivalent proved in-place volume. The discovery well, QHD27-3-3, was drilled and completed at a depth of 1,570 m and encountered 48.9 m of oil pay zones. The field’s proved in-place volume has reached 104 million tons of oil equivalent, according to CNOOC.
