ExxonMobil, partners to redevelop Angola Block 15 to increase production

IRVING -- ExxonMobil and its partners said they will further invest in Block 15 offshore Angola to increase production as part of an agreement with Angola’s recently established National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels. As part of the agreement, Sonangol, Angola’s state oil company, will receive a 10 percent equity interest.

“This renewed collaboration will enable Angola to optimize recovery and add production from mature fields,” said Hunter Farris, senior V.P. of ExxonMobil Upstream Oil & Gas Company.

As operator, ExxonMobil will complete a multi-year drilling program in the block and install new infrastructure technology to increase capacity of existing subsea flow lines. The project will generate about 1,000 local jobs during the execution phase, and will produce approximately 40,000 additional barrels of oil per day once online.

Changes to the production sharing agreement extend operations through 2032 and bring Sonangol into the Block 15 partnership with a 10% interest. Under the agreement, Esso Angola’s interest is 36%, BP Exploration’s share is 24%, ENI Angola Exploration’s interest is 18% and Equinor Angola’s share is 12%.

ExxonMobil has interest in three deepwater blocks covering nearly 2 million gross acres in Angola. These blocks contain substantial development opportunities and have a gross recoverable resource potential of approximately 10 Bboe. Block 15 has produced more than 2.2 Bbbl of oil since 2003.