SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the period ended 24 November 2003
BP p.l.c.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
1 ST JAMES'S SQUARE, LONDON, SW1Y 4PD, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F |X| Form 40-F
--------------- ----------------
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes No |X|
--------------- ----------------
November 24, 2003
BP ANNOUNCES THIRD UTRA-DEEP WATER DISCOVERY OFF ANGOLA
Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol) and BP today announced
the 'Marte' oil discovery in the ultra-deepwater Block 31, offshore Angola. This
is the fourth exploration well BP has drilled in Block 31, and the third
successful discovery following the Plutao and Saturno discoveries, which lie
some 20 to 25 kilometres from Marte. BP plans to drill one further exploration
well, Venus-1, in this area this year.
BP is currently exploring various development concepts. The proximity of Marte
to Plutao and Saturno makes a joint development likely, however, further work
will be required to define the scope of any subsequent development.
The Marte-1 well was drilled in a water depth of 2,000metres some 175 kilometres
off the Angolan coast, and reached a total depth of 4,193 metres below sea
level. It flowed at 5,200 barrels a day during testing.
Block 31 and its operatorship was awarded in 1999 by Angola's state oil company
Sonangol to BP with a 26.67 per cent equity together with its partners Esso
Exploration and Production Angola (Block 31) Limited 25 per cent, Sonangol, E.P.
20 per cent, Statoil Angola A.S.13.33 per cent, Marathon Petroleum Angola Block
31 Limited 10 per cent and EPA (Block 31) Ltd (a member of the Total group of
companies) 5 per cent.
Notes to Editors:
- BP's involvement with Angola goes back to the mid-1970s. During the
1990s, BP made very substantial investments in Angola's offshore oil and it is
now an important part of the company's upstream portfolio. BP has interests in
four blocks with operatorship of two.
- Operatorship of Block 31 was awarded to BP Exploration (Angola)
Limited in May 1999. The Block covers an area of 5,349 square kilometres and
lies in water depths of between 1,500 and 2,500 metres. This is normally
classified as ultra-deep water.
- BP also operates Block 18, which contains the Greater Plutonio
project. BP has 50 per cent equity in the Block. Shell also has 50 per cent.
- BP's other interests in Angola are:
Block 15 operated by Esso (BP 26.67 per cent equity), which contains the
Kizomba A, Kizomba B and Xikomba fields that are now being developed.
Block 17 operated by Total (BP 16.67 per cent equity), which contains
the Girassol field, which came on stream in December 2001 and the Dalia field,
which was approved for development by Sonangol in May 2003.
Further enquiries:
Toby Odone, BP press office, tel: +44 (0) 20 7496 5256
- ENDS -
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BP p.l.c.
(Registrant)
Dated: 24 November 2003 /s/ D. J. PEARL
..............................
D. J. PEARL
Deputy Company Secretary