Tanzania has become hot property, with BG Group and Statoil eying LNG export from the gas-rich offshore region. Tanzania’s recent rise up the resource rankings has been fast, despite it having taken a long time to reveal its potential reserves…
All eyes are on Mozambique as significant natural gas finds are set to turn the East African country into a major LNG player, but are oil riches on the horizon? Mozambique’s prolific Rovuma basin holds 12 offshore discoveries within a 50km radius…
Fugro was awarded a three-year contract by Chevron’s subsidiary, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Ltd., to support its development program at Block 0, off the coast of Cabinda province, Angola. The contract includes the provision of offshore…
Analysis: Perspectives Independent oil companies have led the way opening new frontiers in recent years, but this may change as companies of all sizes have locked-up huge swathes of frontier acreage, creating opportunities for exploration-driven deals…
Colloquy: Editor’s Column The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) has developed a new African exploration GIS database, as the Edward G. Purdy Memorial Project, honoring the late geologist (b. 4 December 1931, d. 13 October…
The Starfish-1 exploration well drilled offshore Ghana is to be plugged and abandoned after disappointing drilling results, said operator Ophir. The well, in the Offshore Accra Contract Area, was drilled in 1490m water by the Stena DrillMax drillship in the frontier Keta basin…
Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas is planning 3D and 2D seismic campaigns after being granted a one year extension on two exploration licenses offshore Namibia. The extension to the Guy (2111B & 2211A) and Sharon (2213A & 2213B) licenses, both in the Walvis Basin…
Aberdeen-based CNR International has signed a production sharing contract (PSC) for Block CI-12 off Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), with a 60% working interest. CI-12 is the second high impact exploration block in Cote d'Ivoire that CNR has secured…
East Africa-focused exploration firm Aminex is to carry out a new seismic survey offshore Tanzania after being granted an appraisal license. The license, in the Rovuma production sharing agreement (PSA) area, covers the Ntorya-1 discovery well…
Strainstall, a James Fisher and Sons plc subsidiary, has been awarded a contract to provide Total with an integrated marine management system (IMMS) for the Moho Nord tension leg platform for installation off Congo, West Africa. Strainstall…
BG Group has made a gas discovery in the Ngisi-1 well in Block 4 offshore Tanzania. The Ngisi-1 well, drilled by the Deepsea Metro 1 drillship, was also used to appraise the Chewa gas field, resulting in an upgrade in estimated recoverable resources in the block…
One person is missing and another six were injured following the sinking of Saipem's Perro Negro 6 jackup rig off the coast of Angola. The incident began Monday night (July 1) following the collapse of seabed underneath one of the Perro Negro 6's three legs…
Total awarded 2H Offshore, an Acteon company, a contract concerning the TLP top tensioned riser (TTR) systems for the Moho Nord field development off Congo. 2H Offshore will be responsible for the riser delivery management, which includes design finalization…
Marathon Oil has agreed to sell its 10% working interest in Block 31, off Angola to China Petrochemical Corp. (Sinopec) for US $1.5 billion.. The companies anticipate closing 4Q 2013, with an effective date of January 1, 2013. The transaction will bring Sinopec’s stake in Block 31 to 15%…
ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) and Oil India Ltd. (OIL) have agreed to purchase Videocon Mauritius Energy Ltd.’s 10% share in the Rovuma Area 1 Offshore Block in Mozambique (Area 1) for US $2.47 million. The acquisition will give OVL 60% stake and OIL 40% stake in Area 1…