S05 ORA 6 2021 Well Control_ORA Master Template - 2016 New 13/12/2021 11:59 Page 19
ISSUE 6 2021 • WWW.OILREVIEWAFRICA.COM
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Vaalco s workover of Etame wells increases crude production, benefits Gabon The aim is to maximise production in Gabon.
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ONE OF THE leading global hydrocarbon explorer, Vaalco Energy’s completion of two workovers at offshore Gabon is adding a total of 1,050 gross barrels of crude oil per day, incrementally increasing the production rate at the Etame field. “We are pleased with the results from these workovers, in particular, the 1,050 gross BOPD of additional production. We purchased the mobile hydraulic workover unit earlier this year to allow us to quickly and efficiently react to ESP failures and to proactively prevent ESP failures as we deemed necessary,” said George Maxwell, Vaalco’s CEO. As part of the campaign, Vaalco’s hydraulic workover unit (purchased in early 2021) was utilised to rapidly mobilise and replace electrical submersible pump units. It was able to do this more efficiently than a drilling rig, which had cost saving benefits. The longest producing ESP unit at Etame was replaced and upgraded in the workover of EEBOM-2H which increased production from about 500 gross BOPD (255 BOPD net) to approximately 1,400 gross BOPD (715 BOPD net). Additionally both the upper and lower ESP units at the ET-12H well were replaced and the ESP design was configured at the same well. This restored production to 1,800 gross BOPD (920 BOPD net), an increase
of approximately 150 gross BOPD (80 BODP net) compared to the average rate prior to the workover. “This allows us to maximise production and even incrementally increase production, which is particularly attractive in the current price environment. We will continue to efficiently operate at Etame which generates strong cash flow to fund our accretive strategic initiatives,” Maxwell added. Vaalco has 58.8% working interest at the Etame Marin field and 63.6% participating interest. Other partners are Addax Petroleum and PetroEnergy.
