Cameroon: Murphy to drill on Ntem following force majeure lifting

Operator Murphy Oil Corporation plans a well on the Ntem concession in February following a lifting of force majeure on the block. The Ntem area has been under force majeure since June 2005 as a result of overlapping maritime border claims by Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The border claims remain unresolved but the joint venture partners, Murphy and Sterling Energy have now agreed with state oil company Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures to allow exploration to proceed. Murphy has contracted the Ocean Confidence drillship for the Bamboo #1 well, which will be drilled at a site outside the disputed area.