Production has started on the Umm Lulu oil field offshore Abu Dhabi, Inpex Corp. said today (17 October).
Umm Lulu is about 30km northwest of Abu Dhabi city. Inpex subsidiary Japan Oil Development Co. jointly developed the field with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), BP and TOTAL.
The first development phase saw production start from the Umm Lulu Oil on October 2, using existing facilities of the Umm Al-Dalkh oil field, adjacent to the Umm Lulu oil field. Full field development of Umm Lulu is in progress, and after completion, the field is expected to produce oil at a peak rate of 105,000 bbl/d.
Oil produced from the Umm Lulu in the first development phase is transported via an existing subsea pipeline to Zirku Island, and eventually supplied to customers in Japan and other Asian countries as Upper Zakum Crude.
Inpex has been engaged in the oil development business through JODCO in Abu Dhabi for over 40 years. The company owns participating interests in the producing oil fields of Umm Shaif, Lower Zakum, Umm Lulu, Upper Zakum2, Umm Al-Dalkh and Satah.
In addition, INPEX owns interests in the Nasr oil field, which is under development. Inpex owns a 12% participating interest in the Umm Shaif, Lower Zakum, Umm Lulu, Nasr, Upper Zakum and Umm Al-Dalkh Oil Fields and a 40% interest in the Satah Oil Field.
The concession for the Upper Zakum oil field was extended until 2041, as announced on 21 January 2014.