BP Makes Ninth Oil Discovery in the Ultra-Deep Water Block 31 Angola

Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol) and BP today announced the ’Hebe-1’ oil discovery in ultra-deepwater Block 31, offshore Angola. Hebe-1 is the ninth successful discovery BP has drilled in Block 31, following Plutão, Saturno, Marte, Venus, Palas, Ceres, Juno and Astraea. The well is located 16 kilometres Southwest of the Ceres discovery announced earlier in the year.

Hebe-1 was drilled by the Jack Ryan drillship, in a water depth of 2,008 metres, some 361 kilometres north-west of Luanda, and reached a total depth of 4,823 metres below sea level.

The well was tested at a maximum rate of 5,956 barrels of oil a day (b/d) through a 2 inch choke.

BP is currently evaluating development concepts in the south-eastern region of the block.

Sonangol is the concessionaire of Block 31. BP as operator holds 26.67 per cent. Partners in Block 31 are Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Block 31) Limited (25 per cent), Sonangol E.P. (20 per cent), Statoil Angola A.S. (13.33 per cent), Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Limited (10 per cent) and TEPA (BLOCK 31), LIMITED, (a subsidiary of the Total Group) with 5 per cent.
Notes to editors:

* BP’s involvement with Angola goes back to the mid 1970s. During the 1990s, BP made very substantial investments in Angola’s offshore oil and it is now an important part of the company’s upstream portfolio. BP has interests in four blocks with operatorship of two.
* Operatorship of Block 31 was awarded to BP Exploration (Angola) Limited in May 1999. The Block covers an area of 5,349 square kilometres and lies in water depths of between 1,500 and 2,500 metres.
* BP also operates Block 18, in which it has a 50% equity. In Block 18 the Greater Plutonio Project is currently being developed.
* BP’s non-operated interests are in Block 15, operated by Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited (BP 26.67 % equity) and Block 17 operated by Total (BP 16.67 % equity).

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Toby Odone

BP Press Office, London

BP

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