Carina-Fenix-Orion-Orion Norte-Orion Oeste (Estado Nacional)

Profile: Carina-Fenix-Orion-Orion Norte-Orion Oeste (Estado Nacional) Oil and Gas Field

Location

The Carina-Fenix-Orion-Orion Norte-Orion Oeste oil and gas field is located in the Cuenca Marina Austral 1 block, within the Austral Basin in Estado Nacional, Argentina. Specifically, it is situated off the coast of Tierra del Fuego, with the field's coordinates approximately at -52.9427, -67.2681 (WGS 84).

Status and Operator

The field is currently operating, with Total Austral SA acting as the operator. The ownership is shared among TotalEnergies (37.5%), Wintershall Energia SA (37.5%), and Pan American Energy (25%).

Project Details

• Discovery Year: The discovery year for the field is not explicitly stated, but the broader Cuenca Marina Austral 1 concession has been active since the 1980s.
• Production Start Year: Production at the Carina-Fenix-Orion-Orion Norte-Orion Oeste field began in 2005.
• Concession/Block: The field is part of the Cuenca Marina Austral 1 concession.

Production and Reserves

• Gas Production:
  • The field produced 3,375.18 million cubic meters of gas per year in 2020, 3,474.91 million cubic meters in 2021, and 3,406.7 million cubic meters in 2022.
• Oil Production:
  • Oil production was minimal, with 0.64 million barrels per year in 2020, and no oil production reported in 2021 and 2022. However, there was some condensate production, with 0.6 million barrels per year in 2021 and 0.53 million barrels per year in 2022.
• Reserves:
  • As of 2020, the 2P (proven and probable) gas reserves were 80,115 million cubic meters, and as of 2022, they were 75,664 million cubic meters.
  • The 2P oil reserves were 26.13 million barrels in 2020 and 21.98 million barrels in 2022.

Field Participation and Ownership

The ownership structure includes:

• TotalEnergies: 37.5%
• Wintershall Energia SA: 37.5%
• Pan American Energy: 25%.

Production Outlook

The field has recovered approximately 56.60% of its total recoverable reserves, with peak production in 2019. Production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2049. The field currently accounts for about 4% of Argentina's daily gas output.

Infrastructure and Development

• The field is developed in shallow water, with a water depth of about 233 feet (70 meters).
• The gas produced is transported through pipelines to existing facilities, such as the TotalEnergies-operated Véga Pleyade platform, and treated onshore at the Rio Cullen and Cañadon Alfa plants.

Environmental and Cost Considerations

• The development of the field, particularly the Fenix project within the same concession, is noted for its low technical costs and low emissions. The Fenix project, for example, has a carbon intensity of 9 kgCO2/boe and leverages existing infrastructure to minimize environmental impact.

Additional Context

TotalEnergies, through its Total Austral affiliate, has been operating in Argentina since 1978 and is the country's leading international gas producer. The company operates several fields and facilities in Tierra del Fuego and the Neuquén basin, and also has significant renewable energy operations in the country.