Total starts up Kaombo in Angola

The deep offshore Kaombo project has successfully begun production, Total announced on Friday.

The 115,000-bopd Kaombo Norte FPSO has been brought on stream, and Kaombo Sul is expected to begin operations in 2019, bringing full production to 230,000 bopd.

“The Kaombo startup is a great milestone for Total. Developing the estimated 650 million barrels of reserves will contribute to the group’s growing production and cashflow in Africa,” said Arnaud Breuillac, the president for exploration and production at Total. “Total is proud to build on its deep offshore expertise to operate the latest major project coming on stream in Angola, which will account for 15% of the country’s oil production.”

Kaombo Norte left its base in Singapore for marine tests in March 2018, arriving in Angolan waters in April as planned.

The Kaombo project is a USD 16-billion ultra-deepwater offshore project in Block 32, about 260 kilometres from Angola’s coastline. Work began in October 2014. Total is the operator with a 30% interest, with partners Sonangol P&P (30%), Sonangol Sinopec International (20%), Esso (15%) and Galp Energia (5%).