"Sonangol" and "Shell" cooperate in Low Congo basin

Angola's daily oil production fell from 918.779 barrels in the first half of 2002 to 815.564 in the following six months, which represents a daily drop of 103,215 barrels.

According to oil minister, Desidério Costa, who announced that oil production for the year 2003 is being estimated at 941.537 barrels a day, said the drop was owed to ongoing rehabilitation works on Bagre production platform of block 2, plus the stoppage of Kuito field on the Block 14.

The information was released when the minister was bidding Christmas and yearend compliments to workers of his sector and representatives of Angola-based oil firms. He said on the occasion that concession negotiations on the blocks 10 and 16 have been hammered out and other deals have also been worked out as it is the case of the expansion of the blocks zero, two and three. He also announced new deep and ultra-deep offshore oil strikes on the blocks 14, 15, 17 and 31 of the Low Congo's basin.

According to him, a joint study between Angola's oil firm "Sonangol" and "Shell" is underway meant for the division in blocks of the west ultra-deep fields of the Low Congo basin. Also announced is that a directing plan for the development of gas resources and avoid their burning has been completed. Commenting on the oil spilling contingency plan, the minister said it has already been submitted to the Cabinet Council for approval. (Angola Press Agency, Luanda)