CAPITAL: Brazzaville
MONETARY UNIT: CFA franc
REFINING CAPACITY: 21,000 b/cd
PRODUCTION: 240,000 b/d
OIL/CONDENSATE RESERVES: 1.5 billion bbl
NATURAL GAS RESERVES: 3.2 tcf
TotalFina SA acquired a 15% interest in late 1999 from Royal Dutch/Shell in two deepwater exploration blocks.
Mer Profonde Sud and Mer Profonde Nord cover 3,500 and 3,800 sq km, respectively, in 1,000-2,000 m of water in the Lower Congo basin 120 km off Point Noire.
Both 2D and 3D seismic surveys were completed on MPS, and two exploration wells were slated for first-half 2000. On MPN, following 3D seismic work, the partners planned to drill a well by yearend 2000. TotalFina`s partners on MPS are operator Elf Aquitaine SA 40%, Exxon Corp. 30%, and Shell 15%. MPN partners include operator Exxon 35%, ENI`s Agip 20%, Elf 15%, and Shell 15%.
Agip is operator of Loango, Zatchi, and Kitina fields offshore. Kitina started up in 1997.
CMS Oil & Gas and Nuevo Energy continued a waterflood at Yombo offshore field, where proved reserves were about 36 million bbl in early 1998. Production was steady at about 6,000 b/d.
Appraisal was under way in late 1999 of Kouakouala onshore field, discovered by Elf in 1993. A group consisting of Maurel & Prom, Paris, Heritage Oil Corp., and Tacoma Resources Ltd. collected 80 line km of seismic data and flow-tested the KK-1 well, trucking oil to an Atlantic terminal. The original DST rate was 992 b/d of 41° gravity oil on a 20/64 in. choke from 1,530-52 m.
Development of Moho and Bilondo fields was under active consideration, said Energy Africa.
