Exxon Mobil Corporation has announced that its subsidiary, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Ltd (Esso), has started construction of the largest deepwater development offshore West Africa. The USD 3 billion Kizomba A project in Angola’s Block 15 has recoverable resources of approximately one billion barrels of oil and target production of 250,000 barrels per day. Kizomba A will develop the Hungo and Chocalho discoveries in water depths of 3300–4200 feet. The project will include the combination of a surface wellhead platform and subsea production system tied back to what will be the world’s largest Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO will have 2.2 million-barrel storage capacity. First oil is scheduled for late 2004. Esso has awarded facilities construction and fabrication contracts valued at USD 2 billion for key onshore and offshore components of Kizomba A. A majority of the estimated 300 Esso operational personnel required for Kizomba A are expected to be Angolan nationals. Approximately 400 local jobs will be created in the Angolan port cities of Soyo and Lobito to support construction and fabrication contracts.
