LUANDA FEBRUARY 10, 2017 – Italian oil major Eni has started production of the East Pole field located in a block deep offshore in Angola, with early output estimated at 38,000 barrels per day (bpd), state oil company Sonangol said on Friday.
Production is taking place through the Armada Olombendo Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, which can generate up to 80,000 bpd and compress up to 3.4 million cubic metres of gas per day, the company said.
The field is in Block 15/06, which is operated by Eni with a 35.83 percent stake, while Sonangol also controls 36.84 percent and the SSI Fifteen Limited has the remaining stake.
The East Pole production will add on to output of West Pole, which produces 75,000 bpd, Sonangol said.
“The production of Block 15/06 will reach this year approximately 150,000 barrels of oil per day,” Sonangol said in a statement.
Angola rivals Nigeria as Africa’s largest oil producer.