Benguela Belize-Lobito Tomboco (BBLT)

Profile: Benguela Belize-Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) Oil Project

Location and Geology

The Benguela Belize-Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) oil project is located in deepwater Block 14, offshore Angola, within the lower Congo basin. The project site is approximately 60-80 miles (96-129 kilometers) offshore of the Cabinda coast, in water depths of about 1,281 feet (390 meters).

Project Components

The BBLT project encompasses four main oil fields:

• Benguela Oil Field
• Belize Oil Field
• Lobito Oil Field
• Tomboco Oil Field

These fields are developed through a combination of a compliant piled tower (CPT) and subsea wells.

Infrastructure and Technology

• Compliant Piled Tower (CPT): The project features the first CPT installed outside the Gulf of Mexico. The tower stands 1,680 feet (512 meters) tall from the seafloor to the top of its derrick, making it one of the tallest freestanding structures in the world. It supports topsides weighing over 43,500 short tons and has an area of approximately 2.5 football fields.
• Drilling and Production: The platform includes a fully automated drilling rig integrated with the topsides, capable of drilling to depths of 30,000 feet. It has 40 well slots and can handle up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 420,000 barrels of water per day (BWPD) for re-injection.
• Subsea Development: The project involves subsea drill centers tied back to the CPT. Subsea 7 and Vetco Gray were contracted for the subsea work, including the installation of subsea trees, manifolds, and control systems.

Operators and Partners

The project is operated by Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd. (CABGOC), a subsidiary of Chevron, which holds a 31% interest. Other partners include:

• Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção: 20%
• Eni S.P.A.: 20%
• TotalEnergies: 20%
• Somoil (previously Petrogal): 9%.

History and Development

• 1998: Chevron announced the discovery of the Benguela and Belize oil fields.
• 2000: Appraisal wells were drilled for Benguela and Belize, and the Lobito oil field was discovered.
• 2003: Major contract awards were announced for Block 14.
• 2005: The CPT was installed in April, and the topsides were installed in May.
• 2006: First oil production began from the Belize oil field.
• 2012: Total sold a stake in Block 14 to Inpex.

Contractors and Suppliers

Key contractors involved in the project include:

• Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME): Engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of the production facilities and pipelines.
• KCA/Deutag: Engineering, procurement, and construction of the platform drilling rig.
• Mustang Engineering: Conceptual and front-end engineering for the CPT.
• Heerema Marine Contractors: Installation of the CPT.
• Subsea 7 and Vetco Gray: Subsea contracts for tiebacks, subsea trees, and control systems.

Production and Reserves

The BBLT project has a production rate of up to 220,000 BOPD. The combined peak production from all fields is expected to reach 200,000 barrels per day by the full production phase.

Notable Features

• First Compliant Piled Tower in Africa: The BBLT platform is the first CPT installed in Africa.
• World’s Largest Single-Piece Piles: The project features the world’s largest single-piece piles ever installed.
• Fully Automated Drilling Rig: The platform has the first fully automated drilling rig in Chevron’s Angola operations.
• Produced Water Re-injection: The facility is the first offshore production facility in Chevron to enable produced water re-injection up to 420,000 BWPD.