Project Profile
Launch: 2014
Cost: US$157.5 million [Field development estimate]
Location: Gulf of Hammamet basin, Tunisian Sector of the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia
Reserves: 12,000 bpd (2014 - 2016 projected)
Water Depth: Approximately 242 feet (74 metres)
Area: 220 square miles
Capacity: 780,000 bbls (Thapsus FSO)
The Halk el Menzel Concession covers an area of 220 square miles and is located in the Gulf of Hammamet basin offshore Tunisia. The basin comprises Tertiary and Cretaceous aged sediments, mostly carbonates. The marginal field is located in the Tunisian Sector of the Mediterranean Sea with approximately 242 feet (74 metres) water depth. TOPIC S.A. of Tunisia is the operator and owner of the concession.
TOPIC S.A advertised a field development tender worth EUR124 million for Halk el Menzel at the Tunisian 2020 conference. Recoverable reserves are estimated at 8 million barrels of crude, and TOPIC expected to be producing 12,000 barrels per day during the first two years, generating US$90 million for the Tunisian state.
ELF discovered Halk el Menzel field in 1977 through the drillnig of well HEM-1. In 1979 the field was successfully appriased via the HEM-4 well. Halk el Menzel is considered a marginal field. Development strategy involves mobile installations to produce the field. The mobile installations will consist of a jackup (Jawhara 05) and a moored Floating Storage and Offloading (Thapsus FSO)vessel. The jackup will be converted and upgraded to be capable of both drilling and production activities as a MODPU (Mobile Offshore Drilling & Production Unit). Jawhara 05 will be used to drill the wells and will remain stationed at the field for a few years to be utilized as a MOPU.
Treatment and exporting the oil through an 8 inch sea-line (that shall run from the jackup topside to the FSO moored roughly one mile away). The oil capacity for the Thapsus FSO is currently of 780,000 bbls which enables normal parcel sizes of 500,000 barrels to be exported by shuttle tanker whilst retaining sufficient excess capacity to accommodate weather delay in shuttle tanker operations without compromising production. First oil from is expected in the second half of 2013. Early appraisal also indicated the existence of a structure beneath the Miocene reservoirs: the Serdj prospect. According to recent G&G works and appraisals, the Aptian Serdj formation is expected to found at a depth of 9,842 feet.
Operators:
TOPIC S.A.: Operator with 100% interest
Contractor:
ICON Engineering: Assist in the development of the field