Rio de Janeiro – Akpo oil field, located in deep waters in Nigeria and explored by Petrobras, started producing yesterday (09), according to information disclosed by the oil company.
Petrobras has a 16% share, in partnership with the French Total (the operator of the bloc), the Nigerian NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) and Sapetro (South Atlantic Petroleum), as well as the Chinese CNOOC.
The start of production at Akpo was forecasted for April, but the operator managed to anticipate the schedule by one month. Discovered in 2000, the field is located 200 kilometres away from the coast of Nigeria, at depths varying from 1,200 to 1,400 metres. The estimated reserves are around 620 million barrels of condensed oil, which is lighter and has greater commercial value.
In a press statement, the Brazilian state-owned company disclosed that the Akpo estimate is for peak production of 175,000 barrels of oil a day, which should be reached in the third quarter of this year.
Petrobras started operating in Nigeria in 1998, in deep waters in the delta of the River Niger. Apart from operation in Akpo field, the company also participates in deep water exploration in Agbami field.
*Translated by Mark Ament
