ANGOLA - Chevron Operations.

With an output of over 670,000 b/d. Chevron is Angola's largest crude oil producer. Its producing areas are Blocks 0 and 14 off the coast of Angola's Cabinda exclave. This is in the north of the Congo River's mouth. In Block 0 (areas A, B and C) Chevron unit Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. (CABGOC) has been in operation since 1955 and has 39.2% in this JV. In May 2004, Sonangol and the government extended CABGOC's contract, set to expire in 2010, to 2030. Other partners in this are Sonangol (41%), Total (10%) and Agip (9.8%).

Cabinda's largest producing oil fields are Takula (Area A), Numbi (Area A), and Kokongo (Area B). Chevron in 2004 launched a plan to invest $4 bn in Angolan E&P until 2008. Its Sanha field in Block 0 began production in 2005, which will peak at 100,000 b/d in 2007. A gas condensate plant producing LPG started up in 2005, reducing the flaring of gas in the region by 50%.

In January 2005, Chevron announced its first oil from Block 0's Bomboco field, which now is producing 30,000 b/d. In October 2004, Chevron announced it would spend $7 bn in deep-water Block 14: $4 bn for Angola LNG (ALNG); $2 bn for the Sanha gas and condensate program; and $1 bn to develop the Benguala, Belize, Lobito, and Tomboco fields.

In January 2006 CABGOC brought online the first phase of the Benguela, Belize, Lobito, Tomboco (BBLT) project. Oil production from BBLT, which feeds into the light/sweet Nemba stream, now produces more than 145,000 b/d and is expected to reach 200,000 b/d by 2008. In June 2006 CABGOC brought online its Tombua/ Landana joint development, with production to peak at 100,000 b/d by 2010.

In January 2007 Chevron announced a significant oil find in the deep-water Block 14. The discovery well, Lucapa-1, was drilled in October 2006 in 3,940 feet of water to a vertical depth of 10,958 feet and encountered more than 280 net feet of oil in Miocene sands. This, the 10th find in Block 14 since 1997, was being followed by further drilling and testing to assess its potential reserves. The Lucapa discovery is the 10th exploration discovery made in Block 14 since 1997. Chevron Int'l E&P President John Watson on Jan. 26 was quoted as saying: "This important discovery underscores the value of focusing Chevron's exploration program on high-impact opportunities". Chevron hold 31% in Block 14 and its partners there include Galp, Portugal's biggest oil and gas firm, which has a 9% stake in the consortium. The other partners with 20% each are: Sonangol, Agip and Total.

Other producing areas in which Chevron has interests include: Block 2 operated by Agip and Texaco (Chevron), and Block 4 operated by Texaco (Chevron) with its partners being Total and Ranger Oil. Exploration is continuing on these blocks.