Angola’s Block 15, one of the country’s major offshore producing assets, has entered a new stage of development as ExxonMobil moves to extend the field’s lifespan.
The U.S. oil company awarded an engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract to the Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA), according to an April 30 statement from Subsea7. The contract covers the Redevelopment 2.0 Likembe project, which focuses on restoring and increasing production from the field.
Under the agreement, SIA, a partnership between SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7, will carry out subsea tie-back work linking the field to existing Block 15 infrastructure. The contract is worth between $150 million and $300 million. By using current facilities, ExxonMobil plans to raise production while avoiding the cost of building new platforms.
Subsea7 will manage the project from its offices in Paris, Luanda, Lisbon, and Sutton. SLB OneSubsea will produce subsea control systems and smart cables in Norway to operate and manage seabed equipment.
A Subsea7 executive said the project builds on the company’s experience in West Africa, Australia, and the United States. The company also said it plans to maintain strong safety standards while supporting skills development in Angola.
ExxonMobil has operated Block 15 since securing the license in 1994. The block remains one of Angola’s most important offshore assets, with 19 commercial discoveries and estimated recoverable resources of about 3 billion barrels. Since production started in 2003, operators have produced around 2.5 billion barrels.
At peak production, Block 15 produced more than 600,000 barrels per day through four floating production units: Kizomba A, Kizomba B, Mondo, and Saxi-Batuque.
In November 2025, ExxonMobil extended its operating license for Block 15 through 2037 after discussions with Angolan authorities.
The investment comes as Angola works to slow a long-term decline in oil production following its exit from OPEC in 2023. The government wants to keep national oil production above 1 million barrels per day.
source:www.ecofinagency.com
African Energy Council