Kaombo: An Innovative Ultra-Deep-Water Offshore Project in Angola – Total

Launched in April 2014, Kaombo is the first project on ultra-deep offshore Block 32, located off the Angolan coast. With 658 million barrels of estimated oil reserves situated at depths of up to 1,950 meters and spread across 800 square kilometers, Kaombo is one of Totals greatest technical feats ever.

The Kaombo project is located in Block 32, a concession that Total operates with a 30% stake. Its aim is to tap into the oil deposits spread across six fields - Gengibre, Gindungo, Caril, Canela, Mostarda and Louro - connected via 300 kilometers of subsea pipelines to two Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels: Kaombo Norte and Kaombo Sul.

This massive, complex project has some unique characteristics:

In an effort to control costs and in line with its policy of continuous improvement, Total decided not to build new FPSO vessels for this project. Instead, two oil tankers were converted into FPSO units with internal turret - this central structure is the nerve center of the FPSO-, a first for Total.

The first FPSO, Kaombo Norte, which started production in July 2018, develops three of the six fields Gengibre, Gindungo and Caril and the second FPSO, Kaombo Sul, which produced first oil eight months later, operates on the other three Canela, Mostarda and Louro. Each vessel produces and stores up to 115,000 barrels per day.

This unique infrastructure and the extensive expertise channeled into the project make Kaombo a showcase for innovation.

Link:

Kaombo: An Innovative Ultra-Deep-Water Offshore Project in Angola - Total