Chevron brings Angola platform online producing 25,000 barrels daily, first oil delivered before year-end but here’s the surprising part

Chevron brings its South N’dola Platform online in Angola with first oil delivered before year-end, producing 25,000 barrels daily. The achievement marks a major milestone for the energy giant in West Africa after just two years of construction. The tieback development showcases how existing infrastructure maximizes production efficiency.

Chevron’s Angola Platform Achieves Production Milestone

The South N’dola Platform delivers first oil just over two years after construction commenced in shallow-water Block 0 offshore Cabinda. The project demonstrates Chevron’s commitment to maximizing existing infrastructure capacity in Angola’s prolific energy region.

Oil flows to the Malongo terminal in Cabinda via a 1,700-tonne platform connected to the upgraded Mafumeira Sud facility located approximately 15 kilometers away. Associated gas supplies the Angola LNG plant in Soyo, supporting the country’s liquefied natural gas sector.

Cost-Efficient Tieback Technology Drives Development

The South N’dola field uses an innovative field-to-production-facility tieback approach that eliminates the need for separate oil and gas processing equipment at the platform. This strategy reduces capital expenditure while maintaining production efficiency.

Brent Gros, President of Chevron Offshore Business, stated that the project exemplifies efficient development of existing reserves. The 1,100-tonne jacket was fabricated at Porto Amboim in Kwanza Sul province, while the 600-tonne deck was constructed in Malembo and assembled at Malongo in Cabinda province.

Block 0 Remains Angola’s Energy Powerhouse

The South N’dola Platform operates within Block 0, Angola’s most abundant offshore reservoir responsible for 12% of the country’s daily energy output. Partnership includes Sonangol (41%), TotalEnergies (10%), Azule Energy (9.8%), and Chevron (39.2%).

Chevron operates two major offshore tracts in Angola: Block 0 and deepwater Block 14 through wholly-owned subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd. The company maintains Africa’s longest continuous oil and gas presence, operating in Angola for more than 70 years.

Project Parameter	Details
First Oil Date	December 24, 2025
Peak Oil Production	25,000 barrels per day
Associated Gas Production	50 million cubic feet per day
Production Wells	12 wells via tieback
Platform Weight	1,700 tonnes
Location	Block 0, Offshore Cabinda, Angola

Economic Impact and Employment Growth

The project generated employment across Angola’s industrial sectors. The South N’dola construction phase created in excess of 800 local jobs and stimulated regional economic activity in Kwanza Sul and Cabinda provinces.

Production brings oil and gas supplies directly to local Angolan processing plants, supporting the nation’s energy independence and export capacity. The tieback development reinforces Angola’s offshore infrastructure and positioning as a significant West African energy producer.

What Does First Oil at South N’dola Mean for Chevron’s Angola Strategy?

The successful delivery of South N’dola Platform reinforces Chevron’s long-term commitment to Angola’s energy sector. The project demonstrates how maximizing spare capacity in existing infrastructure creates efficient development pathways for additional offshore fields.

Chevron continues exploring opportunities in deepwater Block 14 and evaluating ultra-deepwater frontiers in Angola’s growing portfolio. The South N’dola milestone positions the company for sustained production growth throughout 2026 and beyond.

“Safely achieving first oil at South N’dola is the latest example of Chevron’s efforts to maximize production from our existing offshore assets in Angola.”

— Brent Gros, President of Chevron Offshore Business

Sources

• Chevron Corporation – Official newsroom announcement on the South N’dola Platform achieving first oil and major project milestones
• Upstream Online – Comprehensive technical analysis of N’dola Sul project specifications and partnership structure
• Energy Capital Power – Industry reporting on Angola’s offshore development and international partnerships