CNPC to begin production soon at well in West Kordofan, Sudan

Dec 07, 2003 (Interfax) — China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) is expected to soon start production at its Sudan 6 Block in West Kordofan, Sudan, with the daily output volume reaching 60,000 barrels.

The oil block will play a major part in boosting Sudan’s daily petroleum production from the current 295,000 barrels to 350,000 barrels in 2004, according to the Chinese Embassy in Sudan. CNPC, China’s largest oil company, has discovered more than 100 mln tons of recoverable oil reserves in the Fula Area of Block 6.

CNPC has also participated in projects at the Sudan’s 1/2/4 Block and 3/7 Block, and is considered among the most important foreign investors in the North African country’s oil exploration and development program. The Sudan 1/2/4 Block, in which CNPC has an equity, achieved an output of 12.7 mln tons in 2002, 15% more than in 2001. CNPC gained an equity output of 5.07 mln tons from the blocks in 2002, according to the company.

As for the 3/7 Block, the Chinese Embassy, quoting local media reports, said start-up of production was scheduled for 2005, when Sudan’s daily oil output would be raised to more than 600,000 barrels. In 2006, the Sudan is forecast to produce 750,000 barrels of oil daily.