TotalFinaElf SA plans to develop the Carina and Aries gas fields off Tierra del Fuego in Argentina at a cost of USD 400 million. TotalFina Elf Austral is operator of the Cuenca Marina Austral 1 consortium with a 37.5% interest. Partners are Wintershall Energia with 37.5% and Pan American Energy with 25%. Development will include installation of a platform on each field and drilling of seven extended-reach wells. The two platforms, in 60 and 80 m of water, will be produced through an 80 km multiphase pipeline from the Carina platform to the Rio Cullen plant onshore, which will be expanded. Gas separated from the liquids will be sent to the Canadon Alfa plant before transportation to Argentina’s market via the San Martin gas pipeline. Carina and Aries should start production in the second half of 2003 and plateau at 12 million cubic metres per day.
