Towards achieving an output of about 40,000 bo/d, Chevron’s subsidiary Chevron Overseas (Congo) has today kick-started production from the $ 2billion Lianzi development field.

The field which is situated 105km in an offshore zone between Congo and Angola is in approximately 3,000ft of water. Lianzi was discovered in 2004 and includes a subsea production system and a 43 km electrically heated flow line system. The system transports the oil from the field to the Benguela Belize–Lobito Tomboco platform in Angola’s Block 14 and utilizes a Direct Electrical Heating (DEH) system to ensure fluid flow under a wide range of conditions.

“This milestone demonstrates that we continue to make steady progress on delivering major development projects. We have the industry’s strongest queue of major capital projects that are expected to deliver significant value and production growth”, Jay Johnson, executive vice president Upstream, Chevron Corporation told Energy Business Review.

The Lianzi field is Chevron’s first operated asset in Congo and the first cross-border oil development project offshore Central Africa and it is estimated to hold proven reserves of 70 million BO. The company is to operate the field with a 15.75% interest, alongside its subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Companywith 15.5 %,Total E&P Congo -26.75 %, Angola Block 14 BV -10 %, Eni-10 %, Sonangol P&P -10 %, SNPC(Congo’s National Oil Company) - 7.5%, and GALP -4.5%.

“As the first offshore energy development spanning national boundaries in the Central Africa region, Lianzi represents a unique cooperative approach to share offshore resources and may serve as a model for the development of similar cross-border fields between two countries,” Ali Moshiri, president of Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production Company, said.