The CLOV project is an integrated development of a four-field cluster on the northwest sector of Angola's offshore Block 17. Consisting of the oil fields Cravo, Lirio, Orquidea and Violeta discovered over a five-year time period, the CLOV project will be the fourth upstream project undertaken on the license.

Total's Angolan subsidiary, Total E&P Angola, is the operator of Angolan Block 17 with a 40% interest. Partners in the license include Statoil with a 23.33% interest, Esso Exploration Angola with a 20% interest and BP Exploration Angola with a 16.67% interest.

The other upstream projects on Block 17 include Girassol and Dalia, which are presently producing; and Pazflor, which is currently under development and is expected to commence production in 2011.

Four Field Discoveries

The fourth oil discovery on Block 17, the Lirio field was discovered in September 1998. Drilled in (1,365 meters) of water, the Lirio-1 well is located 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of the Girrassol field. The well showed good quality oil at a daily flow rate of 11,000 barrels.

In October 1999, the seventh discovery was made on Angolan Block 17. Cravo-1 was drilled in 4,452 feet (1,357 meters) of water about 124 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Luanda. Flow tests on the well proved a rate of 12,800 barrels a day of high quality oil at 34 degrees API.

The 11th discovery on Block 17, the Violeta field was discovered by Transocean's Jim Cunningham semisub.

Discovered in September 1999, Orquidea-1 was the sixth deepwater discovery in Block 17 at a depth of 3,927 feet (1,197 meters) of water. The Orquidea-2 appraisal well drilled by Transocean's MG Hulme Jr. semisub confirmed the discovery and expanded the size of the Orquidea field in October 2006. At a water depth of 3,822 feet (1,165 meters), the well discovered oil-bearing reserves in both Miocene and Oligocene reservoirs. With the successful appraisal of the Orquidea-2 well, the fourth and final project on Angola's offshore Block 17 was officially a commercial viability.

Field Development

Gathering oil from Cravo, Lirio, Orquidea and Violeta (CLOV), the field development project is currently in the engineering phase. At a daily production rate of 850,000 bopd, petroleum is expected to be produced through Block 17's fourth FPSO. Field development is scheduled to commence after 2010.