Jul. 2012 - ExxonMobil has commenced production at the Kizomba Satellites Phase 1 project offshore Angola, and is expected to produce 100,000 bopd from two large deepwater fields, Mavacola and Clochas. The initial phase of the Kizomba Satellites project ties 18 new wells to production facilities already in use tapping other oil fields in the Block 15 area.

Apr. 2012 - Keppel Shipyard has secured Floating Production Storage and Offloading upgrading projects from SBM Offshore and Bumi Armada. The first project is from SBM Offshore to refurbish and upgrade the existing FPSO Xikomba. Work on this unit is expected to be completed by 3Q 2013. Leased by Eni for 12 years for the development of Block 15/06, offshore Angola, FPSO Xikomba is jointly owned by SBM Offshore and Sonangol. The scope of work on FPSO Xikomba comprises life extension, refurbishment and upgrading of existing topside modules and turret mooring system, as well as the installation and integration of new topside modules. The vessel will then proceed to Angola for completion. Keppel Shipyard's second project is to modify and upgrade Bumi Armada's FPSO Armada Claire. This includes refurbishment and life extension works as well as installation and integration of topside modules. Work is expected to commence in 3Q 2012, and be completed in 4Q 2013. Upon completion, FPSO Armada Claire will be deployed in the Balnaves field, northwest Australia.

Dec. 2011 - Eni and SBM Offshore have executed contracts for the 12-year charter and operation of Xikomba FPSO for Block 15/06. The development plan calls for the relocation of the existing Xikomba FPSO, which has been operated under contract for ExxonMobil since 2003. The vessel will undergo a major upgrade in order to meet new project specific requirements. First production from the FPSO is targeted for 2014.

Apr. 2011 - SBM Offshore has a Letter of Intent (LOI) from ENI to relocate the Xikomba FPSO to Block 15/06 offshore Angola. The unit has been operating for ExxonMobil in Angola since 2003, and following the notice of termination, the vessel is scheduled to stop operating in the first half of 2011. Xikomba FPSO will undergo a major upgrade in order to meet the new project specific requirements. The LOI covers the early phase of the project, and allows SBM Offshore to start engineering and procurement. The full-scope, 12-year lease and operate contracts are expected to be finalized in the coming months.

Jun. 2010 - Oliver Valves was selected to supply subsea and topside valves for the Kizomba Satellites project on Block 15, offshore Angola. The project will create new wells feeding into the existing Kizomba A and B facilities. The scope of work includes the supply and installation of Twinsafe single unit double block and bleeds valves for the topside portion of the project, and a range of small-bore gate valves, needle valves and ball valves for the subsea sections. The Kizomba project is situated roughly 90 miles (145 kilometers) off the coast of Angola, spanning 988,422 acres (4,000 square kilometers). ExxonMobil holds a 40% operating interest in the block; Eni holds 20%; BP holds 26.67%; and Statoil holds the remaining 13.33%.

Dec. 2009 - GE awarded Neptune Deeptech a contract for the provision of five subsea tree frames that will be installed on the Esso-operated Kizomba Satellites Project, located on Block 15 in waters measuring 3,947 feet (1,203 meters) offshore Angola. Deeptech will provide the tree frames during a nine-month period, and fabrication work will be performed at the company's Aberdeen facilities.

Jul. 2009 - Saipem was awarded a contract for work to be conducted on the Kizomba Satellites Project offshore Angola. ESSO Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited has awarded Saipem the lump sum turnkey contracts for the tie-back work for the Kizomba Satellites development in Angola Block 15, approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Soyo at water depths ranging from 3,281 to 3,937 feet (1,000 to 1,200 meters). Saipem will be responsible for the engineering, construction, transport and installation of pipelines, umbilicals, risers and subsea systems connecting the Mavacola and Clochas Fields to the existing FPSO units at Kizomba A and B (developments that Saipem completed similar work in the mid 2000s). Offshore operations will be carried out in 2011 by the vessels FDS and Saipem 3000. A portion of the subsea equipment will be fabricated in Angola at Saipem's Ambriz and Soyo yards.

Aug. 2004 - ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, has started production of the $3.4 billion Kizomba A project, the largest deepwater development offshore West Africa. Estimated recoverable resources from the project total approximately 1 billion barrels of oil (gross), with an expected production rate of 250,000 barrels a day.

Oct. 2003 - ExxonMobil's tension leg platform for the Kizomba A field offshore Angola arrived in Luanda over the weekend. "Soon the off-loading procedure will be complete and the platform will be towed to Block 15, where it will provide platform drilling for Kizomba A, expected to begin later this year," Dean Guttormson, Director General for Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited said.

Nov. 2001 - Emerson Process Management has been awarded a contract by Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation, for the development and installation of the control, instrumentation and safety systems needed by Esso for the Kizomba A project offshore Angola.

Nov. 2001 - Fluor Corporation and AMEC announced that their Fluor Daniel/AMEC alliance (AFD) has been named by Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea as its subcontractor to design and manage a major portion of what will be the world's largest deep-water crude oil production facility for Esso Exploration Angola Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation.

Sep. 2001 - Saibos CML, an equally-owned subsidiary of Bouygues Offshore and Saipem SpA, has been awarded a contract for the Kizomba A Development Project in Angola for an approximately total amount of USD $230 million.

Sep. 2001 - The Cameron division of Cooper Cameron Corporation has been awarded a contract totaling approximately $100 million for subsea equipment to be installed offshore West Africa by an Exxon Mobil Corporation subsidiary. Cameron will provide subsea trees, control systems, manifolds and related services for Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited's Kizomba A project offshore Angola. Initial equipment delivery and installation is slated to begin in late 2002.

Aug. 2001 - ExxonMobil Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited (Esso), has started construction of the largest deepwater development offshore West Africa. The $3 billion world-class Kizomba A project in Angola's Block 15 has recoverable resources of approximately one billion barrels of oil and target production of 250,000 barrels per day. Kizomba A will develop the Hungo and Chocalho discoveries in water depths of 3,300-4,200 feet.

Aug. 2001 - Hyundai Heavy Industries has been awarded a contract valued at USD $800 million for the Kizomba-A FPSO project by ExxonMobil, on a turnkey basis. This project is the largest order HHI has ever received for an offshore FPSO project. The Kizomba field is located in the deepwater block 15 offshore Angola.

Jul. 1999 - Esso Exploration Angola has made a deepwater oil discovery, its fifth oil find on Angola Block 15. The discovery, named Chocalho, encountered an oil bearing reservoir that flowed at a test rate of 4,554 barrels per day. The well was drilled in 3,763 feet (1,147 meters) of water to a total depth of 8,245 feet (2,513 meters).

Jul. 1998 - Exxon Corporation announced that its affiliate, Esso Exploration Angola has made a major deepwater oil discovery, its third consecutive oil find on Angola Block 15. The Hungo discovery encountered four oil bearing reservoirs, three of which flowed at a combined test rate of approximately 15,900 barrels per day. The well was drilled in 3,947 feet (1,202 meters) of water to a total depth of 10,240 feet (3,121 meters). Exxon Exploration will coordinate further appraisal work on behalf of Esso Exploration Angola to define the actual recoverable reserves of the three discoveries. If Block 15 is determined to be commercial, it will be assigned to Exxon's newly formed affiliate, Exxon Upstream Development which will integrate development planning, project execution, development drilling and implementation of operations on the block.

Jan. 1974 - The FPSO was built in 1974 by A.G. Weser in Germany.