Houston-based Marathon Oil Corp. has achieved first gas production from its new Alba B3 offshore compression platform, offshore Equatorial Guinea, which will help more than double the company’s remaining proved developed reserve base in the West Africa area.
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Image of the installation of Alba's topsides, from Heerema. |
The Alba field, one of the largest producers in the Gulf of Guinea, is located about 32km offshore from the capital Malabo, on the island of Bioko.
Production from the B3 platform allows Marathon Oil to convert approximately 130 MMboe of proved undeveloped reserves, more than doubling the company’s remaining proved developed reserve base in Equatorial Guinea, the company said.
"The Alba B3 compression project will allow us to maintain plateau production for the next two years, mitigating base decline, while extending the Alba Field’s life by up to eight years,” Mitch Little, Marathon vice president–conventional said.
Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG) served as the general contractor for the Alba B3 compression project. In addition, an Equatoguinean construction firm fabricated both the platform flare and bridge structures as part of Marathon Oil’s commitment to building local capacity within the country.
In February, Marathon announced it would reduce its conventional exploration spending to just US$30 million, down from more than $250 million in 2015 and from more than $500 million in 2014.
That same month, the Houston-based company shared a video of the Alba B3 5800-tonne compression platform installation. The platform components were brought in by barge and then installed in 250ft water depth over 10 days. The installation took place a month prior, in January.
Construction of the Alba B3 platform began in March 2014, which was executed at multiple sites across the world. Iv carried out the engineering work at Iv’s head office in Papendrecht as well as in Houston, Texas.
Marathon Oil’s wholly owned subsidiary Marathon E.G. Production is the operator of the Alba field and holds 65% working interest. Partner Noble Energy holds the remaining 35%.
Read more:
Marathon slashes exploration spending
Alba B3 installed offshore Equatorial Guinea
Alba B3 platform leaves for African waters
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