Italian energy group Eni has started producing gas at the giant field Perla, located in the Gulf of Venezuela and discovered in 2009. The field is part of the Cardón IV Block, operated by Cardón IV SA, a joint venture of Eni (50%) and Repsol (50%). Perla holds 17 Tcf (480 bcm) of gas reserves, corresponding to about 3.1 Gboe, with additional potential. Eni and Repsol will develop the Perla field in three phases: in a first phase (Early Production), production will peak at about 450 mcf/d (12.7 mcm/d, corresponding to 40,000 boe/d net to Eni). Production will be raised in Phase 2 (800 mcf/d or 23 mcm/d) from 2017 (corresponding to 73,000 boe/d net to Eni) and again in Phase 3 (plateau of 1,200 mcf/d or 24 mcm/d) from 2020 (corresponding to 110,000 boe/d net to Eni). Gas will be sold to national oil and gas company PDVSA under a Gas Sales Agreement running until 2036.
Eni is already active in Venezuela through a 40% stake in the Junín-5 heavy oil block (PDVSA 60%), in the Orinoco Oil Belt, which holds 35 Gbl of certified oil in place.
Source: Repsol