Unity oilfield explained

Unity oil field
Location Map:South Sudan
Coordinates:9.4776°N 29.6746°W
Relief:yes
Country:South Sudan
Offonshore:Onshore
Discovery:1982

The Unity oilfield (Chotjiok) is a major oilfield in Chotjiok at Rotriak Boma, Budang Payam, northern territory of Rubkona County, South Sudan. It lies to the north of the state capital Bentiu.

The oil field, and the Heglig field further north, were discovered by Chevron Corporation in 1982, and was to become one of the most productive fields in Sudan. Chevron spent almost $880 million in exploration, but suspended operations soon after the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005) began. The trigger was the killing in 1984 of three Chevron workers by Anyanya II rebels. Chevron demanded a special oilfield protection force in addition to the army. Dissatisfied with security, by 1988 Chevron had closed its operations in Unity province.[1]

Oil production in Unity State was halted in 2013 following the outbreak of the ongoing civil war, which badly damaged the country’s oil infrastructure.

As of January 2019, South Sudan resumed production at the oilfield, and it was producing 15,000 barrels per day.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fact Sheet Two: A History of Oil in the Sudan . Understanding Sudan . University of California, Berkeley . 2011-09-14.
  2. Web site: 2019-01-22 . South Sudan's Unity Oilfields Officially Resume Production . 2023-06-20 . Energy Capital & Power.