VAALCO resumes production at Avouma well offshore Gabon

HOUSTON -- VAALCO Energy said Thursday that the secondary ESP in the Avouma 2-H well on the Avouma platform, offshore Gabon, in the Etame Marin Permit, was recently started and the well is now producing at a stable rate.

The well’s primary ESP failed and prior to attempting to start the secondary ESP, VAALCO and the manufacturer and installer of the ESP worked closely to optimize the startup procedure.

The lower pump was successfully started last week and performance is stable with the well producing approximately 1,850 bopd (gross). The well was producing approximately 2,700 bopd (gross) prior to the failure of the first ESP. VAALCO is currently flowing the well at a lower rate while monitoring the performance of the ESP.

Cary Bounds, VAALCO’s COO commented, “We are pleased to have restarted production from the Avouma 2-H well and will continue to monitor the performance of the secondary ESP. We are conducting a detailed investigation of ESP failures encountered earlier this year on the platform and hope to restore production from two shut-in wells in the fourth quarter. The upcoming Avouma ESP replacements will utilize a more cost effective hydraulic workover unit that is being mobilized to the platform. The ability to restart production from the Avouma 2-H validates our strategy of installing primary and secondary pumps in all of our platform wells.”