SONANGOL ANGOLA | OIL | BUSINESS | CULTURE ISSUE 16 WINTER 2007 UNIVERSO Universo ISSUE 16 – WINTER 2007 FIRST MEETING: Angola takes its seat in Vienna ■ FIRST OIL: Angola achieves output record with Greater Plutonio startup ■ FIRST CLASS: Angola wins Afrobasket for the eighth time ISSUE 16 WINTER 2007 INSIDE SONANGOL INSIDE ANGOLA Moving On 8. Turned On 32. Weekend Away The amazing changes that have Eight years after the initial discovery on With every year that passes since the materialised in Angola Block 18, first oil flows from the Greater end of hostilities in 2003, the possibil- during the four years Plutonio field bringing Angola’s production ities for tourism offered by Angola’s that Universo has goal of 2 million barrels per day a signifi- welcoming coast and countryside been published seem TENTS cant step closer become increasingly evident scarcely credible. In 2004, the coun- try was little known except as a war zone. Now it is one of Africa’s major oil pro- ducers, set to achieve CON the coveted daily production level of 2 million 38. The Hungry bpd in the new year. In September Angola took Dragon its seat in Vienna as member of the exclusive Opec club – and in another demonstration of China’s rising profile on the the country’s coming of age as an oil state, 12. In the Big League Now African continent, particularly in Luanda was recently the setting for the 2nd Angola, offers important oppor- Admission to Opec has put Angola on the front line of Deepwater Offshore West Africa Conference, tunities as well as challenges for global petropolitics, so Universo joined the international attended by leading oil engineers, scientists the countries involved media corps to catch the tension and drama in Vienna and other industry leaders from all over the world. Sonangol 42. Marginal Makeover But perhaps an even more pertinent indica- Rua 1° Congresso do MPLA, tion of how far Angola has come is to be found In the shadow of the historic Forteleza, N.º 8-16 in our pages. Every one of the brief news items Caixa Postal 1316, Luanda Luanda’s palm-fringed Marginal is announces a new exploration success, while República de Angola being lavishly refurbished to offer an Tel: +244 2 391 182 elsewhere we report first oil from the Greater elegant ocean frontage worthy of the Fax: +244 2 391 782 Plutonio field – a venture that absolutely Telex: 2089 SONANG AN 16. Sharing Good Things nation’s capital defines the country’s upstream credentials. [email protected] As the demand for specialist skills grows, This magazine has also made its own strik- Angola’s oil industry service providers find that Sonangol USA (Sonusa) ing progress, to achieve a unique place in the training local talent by sharing skills and expert- 44. Upside-down Tree 1177 Enclave Parkway pantheon of oil publishing while at the same Second Floor ise can be a win-win situation The baobab tree abounds in its uses Houston, TX 77077 time opening a window on the many positive USA and longevity, and its mystical qualities aspects of Angola and its people. Tel: +1 281 920 7600 have a special place in the folklore of From our next issue, we break new ground Fax: +1 281 920 7666 20. DOWAC – Presenting the the people of the Angolan countryside [email protected] to offer our readers an even more informed Lessons of Success view of the exciting prospects for Africa’s Sonangol UK The opportunity to learn first hand about the hydrocarbons. Merevale House Brompton Place technological achievements in West Africa’s deep 46. Winning Streak But for me, this threshold also marks a per- London SW3 1QE water proved a compelling lure for delegates Soccer may be a favourite Angolan sport, but basketball sonal point of departure. Developing Universo United Kingdom has achieved unparalleled popularity and Afrobasket is the from its early days has been a truly special Tel: +44 207 838 4600 who made their way to Luanda in October experience – as have the opportunities to learn Fax: +44 207 589 9454 tournament that32 its team keeps winning… and winning Telex: 893212 SONANG and share so much of a country which has such 25. Upstream ABC a bright future. Sonangol Asia 50. A Place to Learn 3 Temasek Avenue The oil business is no different from any An attack on Cacuso during the civil war provided a pivotal Peter Moeller 31-04 Centennial Tower other when it comes to industry jargon, moment for a young Angolan nun that has since brought untold Editor Singapore 039190 acronyms and buzzwords that are often Tel: : +65 64 16 3583 riches to hundreds of Angolan children Fax: +65 64 16 3582 baffling to outsiders. At Universo, it is our mission to demystify the technologies and Sonangol Department for Communication & Image Director: João Rosa Santos Corporate Communications Assistants: Cristina de Novaes and Roberto Graça, Marta Sousa, Ana Almeida and José Mota. operations required to extract hydrocarbons, so This magazine is produced for Sonangol by Impact Media Global Ltd, 53 Chandos Place, London WC2N 4HS, UK, Tel: +44 20 7812 6400~ Fax: +44 20 7812 6413 here’s a glossary to shed light on (some) of the terms Publisher: Sheila O’Callaghan; Group President: John Charles Gasser; Project Consultant: Nathalie MacCarthy bandied about wherever oil folk gather Editor: Peter Moeller; Sub-editor: Ron Gribble; Art Director: Lisa Pampillonia; Advertising Design: Bernd Wojtczack; Circulation Manager: Matthew Alexander Contributors: Lucy Corkin, Cathy Hamlin, Bruce McMichael, Ramona Siddoway; Cover Photo: PMP Global All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical without prior permission in writing from the publishers. [email protected] 4 SONANGOL UNIVERSO NEWS IN BRIEF ExxonMobil has brought its Martima North field on stream, tied back to the Nearly there! Total concepts Massambala future Kizomba A FPSO – one of Angola is set to export a A Total-led consortium has again struck Roc Oil has celebrated an onshore seven startups for the superma- record 1.95 million bpd of crude oil in the ultradeep Block 32 with its Colorau-1 heavy-oil discovery in Angola’s northern jor in 2007, adding around in December – up 150,000 bpd well. The discovery is in 1,700m of water on Cabinda enclave with an oil-in-place poten- 40,000 bpd to its Block 15 pro- from its previous high in November – the northeastern side of the block – 16km tial of 170 million barrels from its duction, boosting the block’s and break through the long-anticipated 2 from the Manjericão field. The French oil major Massambala-1 well. Roc says it is possible to output to 540,000 bpd. million bpd threshold by next year. is working on a range of conceptual develop- recover 20 per cent of heavy oil accumula- Gas Natural has signed The new Greater Plutonio field ment designs for its discovery. tions – though 10 per cent is a more regular an agreement with Sonagas to operated by BP, which has just come The deep water and remote location, world average. establish an international con- on stream, has made this achieve- combined with Total’s experience in Angola, Roc’s onshore programme continues sortium to explore for gas. ment possible. Viewed in the most suggest these fields are likely to be developed with the Soja-1 exploration well in the Gas Natural SDG SA says it optimistic light, the country’s output via newbuild FPSOs. Total’s project in Block 32 Cabinda South block followed by the Milho- will control 20 per cent of the could reach 3 million bpd by the end may involve the first oil discovery on the 1, Trigo-1 and Cevada-1 exploration wells. future consortium, while of 2010. Gindungo structure. Any development could The company will spend several months con- Sonagas will be the main Throughout 2007, Angola has take up to five years to get to the oil produc- sidering development and production investor and operator. Other pumped ever-increasing volumes of oil and is on target to achieve exports of more than 2m bpd in tion stage. options for its exciting onshore development. international energy companies 2008. Shipments of oil from Girassol, Kuito and Dalia are also increasing, offsetting declines in are being invited to participate. Nemba, Hungo and Kissanje. To maintain long-term interest, Angola offered ten offshore and onshore blocks for tender in Joy for Soyo SMIT, the Netherlands- a licensing round in November. The onshore acreage includes the Cabinda Central Block. Also up Bechtel, the giant US construction company, is to head based heavy lift operator, and for grabs are KON 11 and 12 in Bengo Province, south of Luanda, while out at sea shallow-water the consortium that will build the multibillion-dollar Soyo its local Angolan partner Block 9 and deepwater blocks 19, 20 and 21 in the Kwanza Basin will also be on the table. LNG (liquefied natural gas) plant. Work at the site is due Octomar Serviços Marítimos Further out, acquisitions likely to attract the supermajors are ultradeep blocks 46, 47 and 48 to start this year. have won prestigious contracts in the Lower Congo Basin, lying directly to the west of BP’s Block 31. “Construction of the facility is scheduled to take for BP’s Greater Plutonio devel- around four years to complete,” says António Orfão, opment, Block 18, while president of Sonangol Gas Natural, which is leading the Subsea 7 affiliate Sevenseas flagship project. “We expect the first exports of LNG to Angola has landed an $80 mil- Prolific Pinda Block 4 boost commence in the fourth quarter of 2011.” lion maintenance, repair and CABGOC (Cabinda Gulf Oil Sonangol has announced a significant boost The Angolan project could produce up to 128m tonnes of LNG light-construction contract for Company), the Angola subsidiary of in reserves at the Gimbôa development area of during its planned 28-year lifespan.