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Cameroon hopes to license blocks in the potentially oil-rich Bakassi peninsula following settlement of the long-running border dispute with Nigeria.

Australian newcomer CityView Corporation says it has been offered participation in four existing Angolan offshore oil permits.

Delonex Energy has agreed with Canada’s United Hydrocarbon International Corporation (UHIC) to acquire its United Hydrocarbon Chad subsidiary for $35m, committing to a new work programme in the Doba Basin and Lake Chad.UHIC holds the DOC and DOD blocks in the Doba Basin in southern Chad, Lake Chad Block H in western Chad, and Largeau Block III in central Chad.

Libya’s opening up has impressed international oil companies, but the Jamahiriya (State of the Masses) retains its capacity to surprise investors. Newspapers Al-Shams

The Jonathan administration is signalling a desire for dynamic policy-making, but for all the personnel changes and policy statements, Abuja’s ability to enact deep-rooted change remains in question. African Energy rounds up the new team’s approach to key policy issues

The need for increased security and impact of sovereign rating downgrades by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings due to the political crisis following the assassination of opposition figurehead Chokri Belaïd on 6 February and resignation of prime minister Hamadi Jebali on 19 February – leaving another Ennahda politician, former interior minister Ali Laarayedh, to form a government – will add to the costs of operating in Tunisia, according to international oil companies canvassed by African Energy

France’s Maurel & Prom has entered Angola with the acquisition of 20% of blocks 3/05 and 3/05A previously owned by Mitsubishi subsidiary Angola Japan Oil Company Ltd (Ajoco). The licences are two producing and development blocks in shallow water operated by Sonatrach. The Angolan government published an official decree recognising the transfer on 4 June and the acquisition was finalised at the end of July.

GABON: Grand Poubara dam start-up. China’s Sinohydro has brought on stream the Grand Poubara hydro plant on the Ogooué River. The dam has an installed capacity of 160MW, from four 40MW turbines. The project also includes two transmission lines, one to Franceville, Gabon’s third largest city, 15km from the project site, the other to the manganese mining region of Moanda. A second phase is planned to increase capacity to 280MW. Two other hydro projects are under construction, Chutes de l’Impératrice on the Ogooué River, and Fe2 on the Okano River (AE 245/1). 
 


Cobalt International Energy said the Cameia 2 well on Block 21 had confirmed the presence of the mound reservoir penetrated by the Cameia 1 discovery well, but failed to flow oil from a lower interval. 
“While I am disappointed this deep interval did not flow oil to the surface, I am encouraged by this interval’s potential for significant flow rates across the basin. This information is important as we continue the evaluation of the Kwanza Basin pre-salt’s upside potential,” said chief exploration officer James Farnsworth.

Vanco Energy Company has announced a gas and condensate find with the Dzata-1 exploration well on the Cape Three Points Deep Water Block. Dzata-1 was drilled in a water depth of 1,878 metres some 75km south of Cape Three Points and represents the deepest water exploration well drilled so far in the Ghanaian Tano Basin.

Eni has signed contracts with the Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis (ANPG) for offshore Block 1/14 and the onshore Cabinda Centre Block. Eni will operate 1/14 with a 35% stake, in consortium with Equinor (30%), Sonangol P&P (25%) and Acrep (10%). The Italian major will also operate Cabinda Centre with 42.5%, alongside ExxonMobil with 32.5% and Sonangol P&P with 25%.

OANDO: Nigerian player plans major expansion; PETROBRAS: Brazilian major meets missions from Nigeria and Sierra Leone; RAYTEC/AFRICA OIL: Kenya, Puntland farm-ins

Silver Wave Energy, offshore blocks, Petroleum Agency of South Africa, impact assessment, Shell, Orange Basin Deepwater Area, western coast

Shearwater GeoServices has begun acquiring an initial programme of 3,650 line km of 2D seismic on Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin, using the multi-purpose vessel SW Cook with fast-track processing onboard. Africa Energy Corporation said the survey would attempt to define the lead and prospect inventory of a large underexplored area to the east of the Paddavissie prospects.Later this month, Petroleum Geo-Services will start acquiring 2,200km2 of 3D seismic using the PGS Apollo seismic vessel.

Toronto Stock Exchange-listed Africa Oil Corporation has signed a farm-out agreement with Agriterra (formerly White Nile) to acquire an 80% participating interest and operatorship of the South Omo Block in south-west Ethiopia.