Marathon, partners makes new deepwater discovery

Marathon Oil Corporation announced today that its subsidiary, Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 32 Limited, has participated in a new deepwater discovery on Block 32 offshore Angola. Alho is the 11th discovery on Block 32 and the 26th overall discovery in Marathon’s deepwater exploration program on Blocks 31 and 32 which began in 2001.

The Alho-1 discovery well is located approximately 155 kilometers (100 miles) off the Angolan coast in 1,607 meters (5,273 feet) of water. The well was drilled to a total depth of 4,981 meters (16,343 feet) and encountered oil bearing reservoirs in the Oligocene section. During drill stem testing the well flowed at a rate of 5,400 barrels per day of 26 degree API oil. Alho is located 9 kilometers (6 miles) northwest of the previously announced Cominhos discovery.

The concessionaire of Block 32 is Sonangol, Angola’s state-owned oil company. Marathon holds a 30 percent interest in Block 32, along with the operator TOTAL Exploration and Production Angola (Block 32 Ltd) with 30 percent, Sonangol P&P with 20 percent, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Block 32) with 15 percent and Petrogal with 5 percent.