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Woodside Energy has described two discoveries offshore southern Gabon as non-commercial because of the water depth and development costs. The Petronas-operated Boudji-1 exploration well drilled in Q1 2018 in the Likuale (F14) Block intersected a 90-metre oil and gas column in high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing pre-salt sands. Petronas announced it as a discovery and said it would spur further growth activities in the region. Boudji-1 was followed by Repsol’s Ivela-1 exploration well in the Luna Muetse (E13) Block, which intersected a 78-metre oil column.

The government is planning to introduce a hydrocarbons bill to give oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) its own legislative framework and kick-start investment in the undeveloped sector. The resources sector is legislated by the 2015 Mining Code – more than three-quarters of whose articles have yet to be brought into effect via the approval of implementing degrees – but that law specifically states that water, liquid hydrocarbons and gas are excluded. E&P is thus without any legislative framework.

As Sudan and South Sudan reach a deal to resume oil exports, details have emerged of plans to divide Total’s Block B into three and bring in ExxonMobil as a partner, writes Richard Nield in Juba

Chariot Oil & Gas has failed to find hydrocarbons with its Tapir South well in Northern Block 1811A in the Namibe Basin.

Further discoveries continue to stimulate excitement about gas finds in the Mozambique offshore

Canada’s Wentworth Resources has secured a $26m debt facility, contingent on a sales agreement for its Mnazi Bay gas, which the company says is close to completion. In its Q2 2014 results, Wentworth said it continued to make progress with its partners and the Tanzanian Attorney General’s office to finalise the gas sales agreement, though it gave no date for completion. Wentworth said it would use the proceeds of the debt facility for additional field infrastructure and a planned development well in Mnazi Bay.

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation has replaced six group executive directors (GEDs) in a reshuffle ahead of planned restructuring spearheaded by Petroleum Resources Minister Rilwanu Lukman. The new appointments follow the naming of Mohamed Sanusi Barkindo as NNPC group managing director in January to replace Alhaji Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua (AE 155/24).

Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) has given Subsea 7 a contract for the installation of spools and umbilicals for its Baobab field phase III development. The main offshore installation phase is expected to be carried out by Subsea 7’s Seven Pacific vessel in Q2 2015. In Q4 2013, CNR contracted Transocean’s Cajun Express drilling rig for a six-well drilling programme at the Baobab field. The rig, presently on contract to Cairn Energy offshore Senegal, is contracted from November 2014 to November 2015 at a day rate of $495,000 for a light crude oil drilling programme targeted to add 11,000 boe/d of net production when complete.

Gabon's draft law includes a model contract and will offer a formal legal framework, giving greater security to new investors. Licensing will focus on the deep water

Bid round advisers EY opened licensing round bids from prequalified companies in London on 17 November. National Oil Company of Liberia (Nocal) said EY would now provide an independent evaluation of the fiscal terms contained in each bid. Winning bidders are expected to be notified by 24 November, and Nocal will then negotiate production-sharing contracts (PSCs) with the companies. The Liberia Basin bid round offered four undrilled offshore blocks – LB-6, LB-7, LB-16 and LB-17. The government had pledged not to award new oil concessions until it had passed a new oil law and Nocal Act, but argues that these are not new blocks.

East African Exploration (EAX) has farmed into Lion Petroleum’s 33,000km2 Block 1, taking over the operatorshipwith the right to earn up to 80% equity. The deal still requires formal approval from the Ministry of Energy but will involve an extensive and accelerated exploration work programme, including extensive gravity and magnetic surveying and up to1,200km of 2D land seismic in two phases. The block, considered largely under-explored, lies in north-east Kenya, over the western part of the Mesozoic Madera-Lugh basin, representing the western part of the extensive Ogaden Basin of Ethiopia and Somalia.

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Eni and their partners have signed a unitisation and unit operating agreement (UUOA) for the development of massive natural gas resources that straddle Anadarko-operated Area 1 and Eni’s Area 4. Under the terms of the UUOA and previously announced Decree Law, the Prosperidade and Mamba reservoirs will be developed in a separate but co-ordinated manner by the two operators until 24tcf of natural gas reserves, 12tcf from each area, have been developed. All subsequent development of the unit will be pursued jointly by the Area 1 and Area 4 concessionaires through a joint-venture operator (50:50 Anadarko and Eni).

As the pace of East African exploration picks up, Tullow Oil spudded the Tutule-1 well on 21 September in the South Omo Block in the Southern Rift Basin. Joint venture partner Africa Oil Corporation said the well would test the Tertiary rift play in a horst block feature 4km east of the recent Sabisa-1 well, which proved the basic elements of a hydrocarbon system including reservoir, seal and source. Further east on Block 8 in the Ogaden Basin, operator New Age (African Global Energy) is expected to spud the El Kuran well later this month.

Sonangol on 12 April made declarations of commerciality for three gas discoveries: the Lira well on Block 15/14 in the Lower Congo Basin, and Katambi-1 on Block 24/11 and Lontra-1 in Block 20/15, both in the Kwanza Basin.A presidential decree in June 2014 granted Sonangol the mining rights to develop and produce hydrocarbon gases in the Block 15/14 Lira concession area. Sonangol said that, in accordance with the Block 15/06 production-sharing agreement, it would start talks with Block 15/06 operator Eni on options for exploiting, developing and monetising the natural gas resource.

Chariot Oil & Gas has decided to relinquish the C-19 licence offshore Mauritania, but has converted the Mohammedia reconnaissance licence offshore Morocco into exploration permits. Chariot will have a 75% interest and operatorship of the Mohammedia Offshore exploration permits I-III, in partnership with the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines, which holds a 25% carried interest. Chariot said it had decided not to enter into the first renewal phase of the C-19 licence after failing to find a farm-in partner.