Rabi Oil Field

Summary Information

• Operator: Assala Energy
• Country: Gabon
• Location: Two degrees south of the equator in a remote, sparsely inhabited part of the primary rain forest of equatorial Africa, some 140 km south of Port-Gentil, the economic capital of Gabon
• Production start: 1989
• Partners: Assala Energy 100%
• Type: Rabi Light Crude Oil
• Estimated Reserves:
• Production Volume: 23,000 bbl/d in 2010 ( 217,000 bbl/d at its peak in 1997)

Description

• A Giant Oil Field in a Rift Basin, Onshore Gabon
• The oil is pumped to the coast via the Rabi to Gamba Crude Pipeline

Contractors

• **Mott MacDonald:** Installation of a gas injection system to maintain production despite depletion

History

• 1985 - The Rabi-Kounga Field discovered by Shell
• 1989 - The Field came on stream in January
• 2003 - TotalFinaElf announced the signature of an exploration and production sharing contract (ESPC) to replace the concession agreement
• 2009 - Shell increased it share from 44.3% to 94.3% in a Hess asset swap
• 2015 - Wood group awarded engineering, construction, maintenance contract
• 2018 - Assala Energy acquired stakes from both Shell and Total

Geology

• The hydrocarbons are contained within the highly permeable sands of the Gamba and Dentale formations which were deposited in a rift basin of early Cretaceous age, the Dianongo Basin. Trapping is provided by structural closure at the base of the Aptian Ezanga salt.

Links

1. Mott MacDonald, Gas Reinjection, Rabi Field
2. Discovery and Development of the Rabi-Kounga Field: a Giant Oil Field in a Rift Basin, Onshore Gabon
3. Total Upstream History in Africa
4. Shell in strategic asset swap with Hess
5. Gabon: TotalFinaElf Announces the Signature of the Extension of the Rabi-Kounga License with Gabonese Republic
6. Wood Group wins major Shell Gabon contract
7. Assala Energy acquires Total Gabon’s remaining stake in the Rabi-Kounga Block