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COPYRIGHT 2003 Hart Publications, Inc.
ChevronTexaco has assumed operatorship of Kudu Field, the only commercial discovery offshore Namibia. The major is taking over 4,070-square-kilometer Block 2814A from Shell, which has withdrawn from the project.
Kudu was discovered in 1974 by Chevron's Kudu 9A-1 discovery, drilled to a total depth of 4,452 meters in 170 meters of water. Four subsequent wells raised Kudu's proven reserves to 1.4 trillion cubic feet of gas. Shell had hoped that a recent drilling campaign would push the reserves to 5 trillion cubic feet, enough to justify a $2.5-billion floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant that would serve international markets.
As many as four appraisal wells were planned by Shell, but the major pulled out of Kudu after disappointing results on the first two tests. Shell's working interest in Kudu was 75%; that has been proportionally divided between its former partners ChevronTexaco and South Africa-based Energy Africa, bringing their interests to 60% and 40% respectively.
Kudu's reserves now appear to be in the range of 800 billion cubic feet, says Energy Africa. It and ChevronTexaco are shifting their focus from international export markets to local and regional markets. The partners plan to look at several options that may make the field viable, including construction of a steel mill or of a gas pipeline to South Africa.
1 Canada Producers will be...
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