Chevron in Angola: CABGOC Operations, Gas Development and Output

Chevron: Angola’s Longest-Serving International Operator

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC), is the longest-serving international oil company in Angola, with an operational presence dating back to 1954—more than two decades before Angolan independence. CABGOC’s operations in Block 0 (onshore and shallow water Cabinda) and Block 14 (deepwater Lower Congo Basin) have produced billions of barrels of crude oil over seven decades, making Chevron one of the foundational companies in Angola’s petroleum history.

In recent years, Chevron has pivoted from its traditional role as a crude oil producer to become a critical player in Angola’s gas commercialisation strategy. The December 2024 start-up of the Sanha Lean Gas Connection project—capturing associated gas from Blocks 0 and 14 for delivery to the Angola LNG plant at Soyo—marks a strategic inflection point for Chevron’s Angolan operations and for the country’s broader energy transition.

Operated Interests

Block 0 — Cabinda Onshore and Shallow Water

Block 0 encompasses the Cabinda enclave in northern Angola and its adjacent shallow waters. CABGOC operates Block 0 with a 39.2 percent working interest, with Sonangol holding 41 percent and TotalEnergies holding the balance.

Block 0 has been producing since the late 1960s and has yielded cumulative production of over 4 billion barrels. Current production is approximately 100,000 to 130,000 bpd gross, with natural decline offset by infill drilling, water injection, and well intervention programmes. The block’s production is predominantly heavy oil (18 to 24 API gravity), which trades at a discount to lighter Angolan grades.

Key producing areas within Block 0 include:

• Takula complex: The largest producing area, with multiple platforms and extensive subsea infrastructure
• Malongo area: Including the Malongo West, North, and South platforms
• Lomba area: Shallow water development
• Kokongo: Southern portion of the concession

Chevron’s Cabinda operations also have significant community and social licence dimensions. The Cabinda region has experienced periodic tensions related to separatist movements and community expectations regarding benefit-sharing from oil revenues. Chevron maintains extensive community investment programmes and security arrangements in compliance with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

Block 14 — Deepwater Lower Congo Basin

Block 14, located in the deepwater Lower Congo Basin, is operated by CABGOC with a significant working interest. The block hosts several producing developments including the Benguela-Belize-Lobito-Tomboco (BBLT) complex and the Tombua-Landana development, producing from FPSOs and tension leg platforms (TLPs) in water depths of 300 to 1,500 metres.

Block 14 production has declined from peak levels but remains a material contributor to Chevron’s Angolan output. The block’s remaining reserves support continued production through the 2030s, with incremental opportunities available under Decree 8/24 fiscal terms.

Gas Development Strategy

Sanha Lean Gas Connection

The start-up of the Sanha Lean Gas Connection in December 2024 was the most significant milestone in Angola’s gas commercialisation strategy since the commissioning of the Angola LNG plant in 2013. The project captures associated gas from Chevron’s Block 0 and Block 14 operations and pipes it to the Angola LNG plant at Soyo for processing and liquefaction.

Key project parameters:

• Capacity: Approximately 400 million cubic feet per day of lean gas
• Pipeline: A new subsea pipeline connecting the Sanha gas treatment platform to the Angola LNG plant
• Start-up: December 2024
• Partners: Chevron (operator), Sonangol, TotalEnergies, and other Block 0/14 partners

The Sanha connection provides multiple benefits:

1. Flaring reduction: By capturing gas previously flared or reinjected, the project reduces Angola’s flaring volumes and associated methane emissions, contributing to the country’s Global Methane Pledge commitments.
2. LNG feedstock: The additional gas supply helps maintain Angola LNG’s throughput as legacy gas sources decline.
3. Revenue diversification: Gas sales provide Chevron and its partners with revenue diversification beyond crude oil.
4. Carbon credit potential: The flaring reduction could generate carbon credits under VCS methodologies or Article 6 bilateral agreements.

New Gas Consortium Participation

Chevron is a participant in the New Gas Consortium (NGC) led by Azule Energy, which aims to aggregate associated gas from multiple blocks for delivery to the domestic market and the Angola LNG plant. The NGC’s infrastructure development—including the Quiluma and Sanha gas connection projects—represents the most significant investment in Angola’s gas infrastructure since the original Angola LNG project.

Block 33 — Return Service Contract

In September 2025, Chevron entered into a Return Service Contract (RSC) for Block 33 in the deepwater Lower Congo Basin. RSCs are a contractual model where the contractor receives a fee for services rendered (measured in barrels of oil equivalent) rather than sharing production under a PSA. This model reduces the contractor’s direct exposure to commodity price risk while providing access to Angola’s remaining exploration potential.

Block 33 is located adjacent to proven producing areas and benefits from geological analogy with existing deepwater fields. The RSC model, while less common than PSAs in Angola, represents a fiscal innovation that ANPG has introduced to attract investment in blocks with specific risk characteristics.

Financial and Production Data

Production

Chevron’s net production from Angola is approximately 80,000 to 100,000 bpd of crude oil and condensate, plus growing gas volumes from the Sanha connection. Angola represents approximately 3 to 4 percent of Chevron’s global production of approximately 3.1 million boed.

Investment

Chevron’s annual capital expenditure in Angola is estimated at USD 500 million to USD 1 billion, covering maintenance drilling, well interventions, gas infrastructure, and facilities upgrades. The Sanha Lean Gas Connection project represented a multi-billion dollar investment over several years.

Workforce

Chevron/CABGOC employs approximately 2,500 to 3,500 staff directly in Angola, with additional thousands employed through contractors. The company is one of the largest private sector employers in Cabinda province. Compliance with local content requirements is managed through a dedicated local content function.

ESG and Community Investment

Chevron’s ESG performance in Angola is shaped by its long operational history, community relationships in Cabinda, and corporate commitments to environmental stewardship. Key ESG dimensions include:

• Flaring reduction: The Sanha gas connection represents the single largest flaring reduction project in Chevron’s global portfolio.
• Community investment: Chevron invests approximately USD 20 to USD 40 million per year in community development programmes in Cabinda and Luanda, focusing on education, healthcare, agriculture, and small business development.
• Environmental management: Chevron maintains extensive environmental monitoring programmes for its onshore and offshore operations, including water quality, air emissions, and biodiversity assessments.
• Security and human rights: As a signatory to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, Chevron conducts human rights impact assessments and maintains grievance mechanisms for communities affected by its operations.

Strategic Outlook

Chevron’s Angola strategy is evolving from a predominantly crude oil focus to a balanced oil-and-gas portfolio:

1. Block 0 and 14 life extension: Maximize production from mature assets through infill drilling and Decree 8/24 incremental production programmes.
2. Gas commercialisation: Expand gas capture and delivery through the NGC infrastructure, reducing flaring and generating additional revenue.
3. Block 33 exploration: Execute the RSC work programme, with potential for new discoveries in proven deepwater terrain.
4. Portfolio rationalisation: Chevron has been a net seller of international assets in recent years, focusing capital on its Permian Basin and other priority assets. While Angola remains a core position, any significant production decline or deterioration in fiscal terms could prompt portfolio review.

Conclusion

Chevron’s seven-decade presence in Angola—longer than any other international operator—provides institutional knowledge, community relationships, and operational infrastructure that are difficult to replicate. The pivot to gas commercialisation through the Sanha connection, participation in the NGC, and the Block 33 RSC demonstrate a company adapting its Angolan strategy to the evolving energy landscape. For ANPG and the Angolan government, Chevron remains an essential partner, particularly for gas development and the decarbonisation of operations in the country’s oldest producing areas.