The TotalEnergies-operated Moho Nord field brings together four reservoirs that extend over 320 km2 in water depths of 750m to 1,200m. As such, TotalEnergies’ commitment to the Republic of Congo’s oil production is poised to ensure additional production of 40,000 bpd, adding to the country’s current levels of 267,000 bpd.
TotalEnergies also operates the deep offshore Marine XX permit, which extends over an area of 3,285.8 km2 at water depths of up to 2,000m. Two drilling rigs arrived at the permit this month, with TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné expressing his optimism that the field will yield a discovery before the end of the year.
In April, TotalEnergies signed an agreement—through its subsidiary TotalEnergies EP Congo—to acquire a 10% stake in the Moho permit from oil and gas company Trident Energy. Following the completion of this transaction, TotalEnergies will hold an operational stake in the permit with 63.5%, alongside Trident Energy, which will retain a 21.5% share, and the Republic of Congo’s national oil company Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), which will hold a share of 15%.
Moho is a deep-offshore field located 80 kilometers off the coast of Pointe Noire and operated by TotalEnergies EP Congo. Production increased significantly in 2017 with the startup of the Moho Nord project. Production facilities include two Floating Production Units (FPU), Alima and Likouf, combining for a current output of around 100 kboe/d (100%).
ToalEnergies began operating in the country in 1968, and is currently the leading retailer and the number one oil operator in the Republic of the Congo. TotalEnergies operates the following offshore fields (in production): Moho Nord, Moho-Bilondo, Nkossa, Nsoko II, Yanga and Sendji. It also holds interests in several offshore producing assets. The company also operates the Djéno oil terminal, and is currently examining plans to solarize the terminal.
In addition to TotalEnergies’ investment plan, the Republic of Congo is set to benefit from a new strategic partnership with Algeria in the field of hydrocarbons and energy. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab and the Republic of Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua on 21 May to enable the development of a new roadmap for bilateral relations between the two countries.
The agreement will also facilitate the sharing of expertise between Algeria’s state-owned Sonatrach and the SNPC headed by Raoul Ominga in the field of downstream oil. The two countries have also expressed their optimism and support to the development of an African Energy Bank to focus investment in oil and gas projects across the continent.
New Gas Master Plan. These major developments come after the confirmation of the formation of a new Gas Master Plan in the country by the Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons. Currently in its final stages, the new plan will provide a framework that incentivizes the development of the national gas sector while serving as a roadmap to harnessing gas resources for domestic consumption and export. The new Gas Master Plan is being developed by SNPC with support from energy intelligence firm Wood Mackenzie. SNPC CEO Raoul Ominga has been working closely with the Ministry to get final approval. This will open the door for a lot of investment in the gas sector in Congo.
In addition to the Republic of Congo’s established fields, the plan opens the door to negotiate existing contracts and is set to culminate in the establishment of a new gas code in the country. The new code is poised to facilitate the commercialization of stranded assets and flared natural gas while allowing the government to make changes to current fiscal terms and make small-scale projects more economically viable. Approval by parliament for the new code is expected by June this year, according to Minister Itoua.
