From Australia (RW): The Apache Energy-Inpex Coniston (SEN, 32/2) oil field which straddles two licences offshore Western Australia has finally been brought onstream, two years later than the original schedule.

The project includes development of the Coniston and nearby Novara oil fields via a subsea tieback to infrastructure already in place for the Van Gogh field, including the fpso

Ningaloo Vision which was recently modified for the subsea hook-up in Singapore.

The vessel can process 150,000b/d of liquids including 63,000b/d of oil. It has storage capacity for 540,000bbls.

The new development includes six Coniston production wells and one production well at Novara connected to a new subsea manifold at Coniston and a pipeline end manifold at Novara. The fpso supplies dry gas for gas-lift in the new wells via new 4in and 6in gas injection lines.

Dual 12in flowlines have been laid from the two fields to Van Gogh. Oil then enters the fpso through flexible flowlines and riser bases.

Development of Coniston began in 2011 with a scheduled completion date in 2013. This was pushed out twice – first to 2014 and then 2015.

Apache says Coniston will flow at 18,000b/d. It was found in 2000 and has estimated reserves of 15.7mmbbls. Novara was discovered in 1989.

Apache had 52.501% until it sold its Australian business unit in April to a consortium of private equity firms led by Macquarie Bank and Brookfield Holdings for A$2.1bn. Inpex holds the balance.

ExxonMobil has turned the taps on ahead of schedule at the KIZOMBA SATELLITES PHASE 2 (SEN 32/1) project offshore Angola.

The Block 15 subsea development takes in the Kakocha, Bavuca and Mondo South fields. Mondo South is the first field to begin production, and the other two satellite fields are expected to start up in the coming months.

The project will develop approximately 190mn bbl of oil with peak production currently estimated at 70,000 b/d and is expected to increase total daily Block 15 production to 350,000 bbl.

Exxon says the project optimizes the capabilities of existing Block 15 facilities to increase current production levels without requiring additional fpsos.

The Mondo South field is being developed with tiebacks to the Mondo fpso, while the Kakocha and Bavuca fields are being developed with tiebacks to the Kizomba B fpso.

Nearly $740 million has been invested in Angola for the project, including contracts for fabrication, logistics support and training and development of Angolan personnel.

“Achieving successful startup has a lot do with the strong partnership between ExxonMobil and other Block 15 co-venturers, the government of Angola, most notably the Ministry of Petroleum, and Sonangol,” Exxon president Neil Duffin said.

Exxon was awarded Block 15 in 1994 and, to date, has discovered a total of approximately 5bnboe. Oil production from Block 15 to date has exceeded 1.8bn bbl. Kizomba Satellites Phase 1 started production in 2012.

Partners in Block 15 are BP (26.67%), ExxonMobil (operator, 40%); ENI (20%); Statoil (13.33%). Sonangol is the concessionaire.

From the North Sea (NT): After a short stay off Hammerfest, Eni’s GOLIAT (32/3) fpso was last week towed 80km north to the field, where early this week it was being attached to its 14 mooring lines.

Installation is in the hands of DOF Subsea, which also performed the tow. Hook-up and commissioning will be supported by the semi Floatel Superior which is due to arrive by 1 June. Start-up is expected in mid year, but depends on a number of factors such as the weather, Eni told SEN.

From Houston (BN): Galp Energia reported the fpso Cidade Mangaratiba, operating on the LULA-IRACEMA fields off Brazil, reached production of 100,000b/d following the tieback of the third production well.