Perla gas field

Perla gas field is a giant offshore gas field in the Gulf of Venezuela. It is located south of Gela field, about 50 km offshore at the Cardon IV block in water depths about 60 m. It covers area about 33 km2.

The field was discovered in 1976. Exploration activities were carried out in 2009. The Pearl-1 well, drilled by the jack-up rig Ensco 68, encountered a 60 m hydrocarbon column with a production capacity of about 600000 m3/d of gas and 500 oilbbl/d of gas condensate. Perla-2 produced 1.4 e6m3/d of gas and 1500 oilbbl/d of condensate, Perla-3produced 1.9 e6m3/d of gas and 1350 oilbbl/d of condensate, and Perla-4 produced 17 e6cuft/d of gas and 560 oilbbl/d of condensate. In total, it is expected to hold more than 16.3 e12cuft of natural gas.

At the phase I light offshore platforms will be installed to utilise the wells already drilled. A pipeline will be installed to a central processing facility located onshore. The phase I is expected to cost of US$1.4 billion.

The field will be developed by consortium of Repsol YPF (50%) and Eni (50%). The front-end loading will be carried out by Foster Wheeler. The field is expected to come onstream by the first half of 2013. The development contract will be in force until 2036.