Ca Tam

Ca Tam Oil Field Profile

The Ca Tam oil field, also known as Sturgeon, is located approximately 160km south-east of Vung Tau City, offshore Vietnam, within Block 09-3/12 of the Cuu Long basin.
The block covers an area of about 6,000km², with water depths ranging from 15m to 60m. It is situated near other production fields such as Rong, Gau Trang, and Bach Ho.

The Ca Tam field was discovered by the 2-X exploration well drilled in 2014. Commercial volumes of oil were confirmed with the drilling of the CT-3X exploration well in October 2015, which flowed at rates of 1,300m³/day in the Upper Oligocene zone and 550m³/day in the Lower Miocene zone.
A second exploration well, CT-4X, was drilled and encountered productive sediments at a greater depth, flowing at a rate of 650m³/day during the production test.

The Ca Tam oil field is developed by a consortium comprising Vietsovpetro (55%), a joint venture between Vietnam Oil & Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Zarubezhneft, PetroVietnam Exploration Production (PVEP, 30%), and Bitexco Group (15%).
Vietsovpetro is the general contractor and operator of the field.

Development plans for the Ca Tam oilfield were approved in July 2017. The project includes the installation of two wellhead platforms (WHP), CTC1 and CTC2. The CTC1 platform was installed in the first phase, while the CTC2 platform is planned for a later date.
The CTC1 platform has a 1,100t superstructure and topside with a vent boom, along with a jacket and boat landing. It includes 12 well slots, a module support frame, and a helideck. The platform accommodates gas lift, water injection, and other utility systems.
The CTC1 WHP is connected to Vietsovpetro’s existing platforms at the White Tiger, White Bear, and Dragon oilfields through subsea cables and pipelines.

First oil from the field was produced in January 2019 at a rate of 1,630t per day. Initial flow from three tie-back wells was 11,900 barrels of oil per day (bopd). The field is expected to produce oil from seven continuous wells, with an average output of 16,000 bopd in 2019, peaking to 23,000 bopd in 2020.
The field is expected to remain in commercial production until 2032 and will generate significant revenues for the project partners and the state government.

Well stream fluid is processed on the topside facilities of the CTC1 platform. Liquids produced from the CTC1 platform are further processed at the RP2 platform at the Dragon oilfield.
The separated gas is transported to the central compressor platform at the White Tiger oilfield via the BK14 and GTC1 wellhead satellite platforms. The GTC1 platform supplies gas lift and water injection to CTC1 through subsea pipelines.

The Ca Tam oil field has remaining recoverable reserves of approximately 31.27 million barrels of crude oil and condensate as of 2022.

Petroleum Equipment Assembly & Metal Structure was responsible for the construction and installation of the CTC1 wellhead platform. LILAMA 18 built foundation piles and berths, while construction was performed by ALPHA ECC.
Vietsovpetro’s Offshore Construction Division provided construction and installation services for the platform, and Vietsovpetro Science Research & Engineering Institute provided design and engineering services. Other contractors included CNI for various equipment and Vietnam Petroleum Institute for sacrificial anodes.

The consortium signed a production sharing contract with PetroVietnam in September 2012.