OGJ Production Editor
HOUSTON, June 23
-- Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade Ltda. has started oil production from
Frade field, Chevron’s first operated deepwater development off Brazil.
Chevron plans to continue development drilling in the
$3-billion project and expects the field to reach a peak production of
90,000 b/d of oil and natural gas liquids in 2011.
The field, discovered in 1986, lies in 3,700 ft of water in the Campos
basin about 230 miles northeast of Rio Janeiro.
The
company estimates that the field contains 200-300 million bbl of
recoverable oil. The field produces 18° gravity oil from shallow
reservoirs requiring long horizontal wells.
Production is
through subsea-completed wells individually tied back to an internal
turret-moored floating production, storage, and offloading vessel with
a 1.5 million bbl oil storage capacity.
Chevron will export the oil to world markets and pipe the natural gas
to the domestic market in Brazil.
Operator
Chevron has a 51.74% interest in Frade. Partners in the field are
Petroleo Brasileiro SA 30%, and Frade Japao Petroleo Ltda., a joint
venture of Inpex Corp., Sojitz Corp., and Japan Oil, Gas & Metals
Corp. 18.26%.
