The
production of oil from the El Bibane field offshore Tunisia commenced last
week from the well EBB-4 according to the operator Candax Energy. Oil production
rates have so far been variable due to onshore plant commissioning and offshore
tie-in delays due to bad weather, both of which have necessitated several
shutdowns. The peak daily production rate thus far is
approximately 1,400 barrels of oil per day (of which net 350 bopd to PA
Resources). The operator expects the oil production level to rise considerably
over the coming weeks as production from EBB-4 is optimised and the EBB-3 well
is tied in and brought on stream.
”The production start up at the El Bibane field will bring us a step closer to reaching the Group’s production target for 2008. Therefore we are very pleased to see that the three wells have been drilled, the production of oil has started and the re-development project will soon be finalised” says Ulrik Jansson, President and CEO at PA Resources.
The second production well in the El Bibane re-development project, EBB-3, was also completed last week and the “West Titania” drilling rig’s demobilisation has been initiated. The installation of the EBB-3 platform and pipeline hook-ups with the other wells is ongoing. The onshore SEEB gas power station is also being commissioned and will be ready to commence power generation operations once gas production from El Bibane has been stabilised in April 2008. The El Bibane field will once again become an important supplier of power in Tunisia.
The gas injection well EBB-5 was tested in the beginning of March and flowed gas and condensate to the onshore Central Processing Facility to clean up the well and enable the onshore plant commissioning to be initiated.