LNG

Australian company Melbana Energy, which began production testing in October at its Alameda oil field offshore the north coast of Cuba, has delivered first oil from early production testing and was upbeat on future prospects for the Cuban production sharing contract held by operator Melbana in partnership with Sonangol, the national energy company of African LNG producer Angola.

Italian energy company Eni has upgraded the resources by more than three times in the Ndungu field offshore the LNG-producing nation of Angola and said the move showed how improved technology can alter the profile and economic viability of a discovery.

Angola, the southwest African LNG producer and holder for 2021 of the current rotating Presidency of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has conducted  a successful oil and gas bidding round and on September 23 will name concession winners.

May 19 (LNGJ) - UK energy major BP and Italy’s Eni have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to progress detailed discussions on combining their upstream portfolios in the southwest African nation of Angola, including all their oil, gas and LNG interests. “The companies believe that combining their efforts in a new joint venture company would bring significant opportunities for them to jointly boost future developments and operations in Angola,” they said.

   Eni and BP have informed the Angolan Government of their intention. “Any final transaction will be subject to relevant governmental, regulatory and partner approvals,” they added. Angola LNG is operated by US major Chevron Corp. and the other shareholders are Angolan energy company Sonangol and France’s Total. The liquefaction plant at the mouth of the Congo River processes 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and produces 5.2 million tonnes per annum of LNG from associated gas from crude oil production.