Sweden’s PA Resources has confirmed that operator Noble Energy is nearing a decision on development of the Diega field in Block I offshore Equatorial Guinea as a likely tieback to the existing Aseng FPSO, as previously predicted by DI (see DI, 13 January 2014, page 1).

PA said, “Studies are advancing toward submission for regulatory approval of the Diega field development plan during the second half of 2014.”

Also the company indicates in its interim report for the three months ending in March that following an extended drill stem test on the field, recoverable volumes are expected to be higher than the 30 MMbbl which were assumed by PA in its August 2013 financial projections.

PA reported that an initial Diega pilot well, I-8, encountered good quality oil. “Subsequently the planned horizontal sidetrack I-8ST showed an oil pay of similarly good quality. The well was tested for one month at constrained rates up to about 7,300 barrels of oil per day. The well has been suspended for re-use as a future production well.”

Meanwhile planning for a new 3-D seismic acquisition program over Block I is well advanced, PA reports. While the Carla South field is currently considered to be sub-commercial, it is to be re-evaluated after new 3-D seismic data is acquired.

The block licence expired in February 2014. An impairment charge was recognised for the carrying amount during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Noble Energy has previously suggested reserves of between 70 and 200 MM boe for the Diega, Carla and Carmen discoveries, with 75% of that total presumed to be liquids. After a 2013 appraisal program at Diega, Noble, which operates the discoveries with 45%, said the test had confirmed reservoir continuity and quality and it indicated an initial development phase would involve 30 to 135 MM boe gross, and that a development plan would be finalised by mid- 2014. A “regional development scenario” would be considered including the Carmen and Carla discoveries, it added.
Noble Energy predicts first oil from Diega in 2016 as a tie-in to the Aseng FPSO, which came onstream in November 2010, in a water depth of 945 m (3,100 ft).

Offshore