US oil major ExxonMobil has made a discovery at the Bavuca South-1 exploration well on Block 15, offshore Angola.
The well encountered 30 metres (98 feet) of high quality hydrocarbon bearing sandstone. It is located approximately 365 kilometres northwest of the Luanda coast and was drilled in 1,100 metres (3,608 feet) of water. ExxonMobil used the Valaris DS-9 drillship for the operation.
The Bavuca South-1 well is part of the Angola Block 15 redevelopment project.
"As operator of the block, ExxonMobil is leading the installation of new technology and a multi-year drilling programme to produce approximately 40,000 barrels of oil per day to help offset natural production declines," ExxonMobil said.
The Bavuca South-1 discovery is the eighteenth in Block 15 and the first in almost 20 years.
The 17 previous discoveries on Block 15 were Hungo, Kissanje, Marimba and Dikanza in 1998; Chocalho and Xikomba in 1999; Mondo, Saxi and Batuque in 2000; Mbulumbumba, Vicango and Mavacola in 2001; Reco Reco in 2002; and Cloches, Kakocha, Tchihumba and Bavuca in 2003.
Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is the operator of Block 15 and holds a 36% interest. BP Exploration (Angola) Limited holds 24%, ENI Angola Exploration BV holds 18%, Equinor Angola Block 15 AS holds 12% and Sonangol P&P holds 10%. The National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) is the concessionaire for Block 15.