On the way to Angola: the largest section of Chevron's first compliant tower, destined for the Benguela-Belize project, seen just after loading out at Kiewit's yard in the Gulf of Mexico
Chevron eyes Benguela-Belize flows
US supermajor Chevron expects first oil from its Benguela-Belize tower in Block 14 off northern Angola in December this year, a company official has said.
"First oil from Benguela-Belize is due in December 2005," an official attending the Luanda International Fair (FILDA) said.
Benguela-Belize is the first phase of the $2.2 billion BBLT (Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco) project, seen as one of Chevron's top five developments globally, and with expected peak production of 220,000 barrels per day.
"The Lobito-Tomboco phase will start around six months later, and production will peak in 2007," the official told Reuters.
The Benguela-Belize production unit, which is 500 metres tall, arrived in Angola in April. It is the first compliant tower outside the Gulf of Mexico.
The heavy oil produced from BBLT will be sent by pipeline to the Kuito floater, which already pumps out around 80,000 bpd on Block 14. Light oil will go via pipeline to Chevron's Malongo terminal onshore the northern province of Cabinda.