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UK seismic consultancy EPI Group’s Ghanaian joint venture EPI SonarTusk has signed a contract to provide project management to Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) for a seismic survey in the Voltaian Basin. The two-year contract will see EPI support the first onshore exploration in Ghana for nearly 40 years, and is intended to acquire a regional 2D seismic programme within the 104,000km² basin. Under the terms of the contract, EPI will define the scope of work, then manage a tender process, creating tender documents, evaluating bids, and assisting GNPC in the selection and supervision of a contractor.

Operator Tullow Oil has spudded the Paipai well on Block 10A in northern Kenya. The well is planned to drill to a total depth of 4,112 metres, testing Cretaceous and Jurassic sandstone targets in the Anza Graben.

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) will increase investments in oil and gas developments during 2009, in spite of widespread expectations of cuts in response

Operator Noble Energy has begun production from the Alen field on blocks O and I. Partner PA Resources said gas and condensate production had increased over recent weeks as commissioning of wells and facilities continued towards full operations later in Q3.

A soaring oil price is propelling Angola’s post-war rehabilitation, making it a force to be reckoned with on international markets, though questions remain on how it can manage OPEC quotas.

Central Europeans look to Africa for energy security, with increasing interest in North African projects from Central European oil companies

Former Addax Petroleum new ventures manager Philippe Probst has been named as interim chief executive of Sweden’s PA Resources as part of a wider board and management shake-up. The Stockholm-based company has acreage in Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea and Republic of Congo. “It is well known that PA Resources has been in a vulnerable financial situation for some time,” the company said in a statement.

Madagascar launched a licensing round on 7 November, offering 44 offshore blocks in the Morondava Basin. The blocks are each about 1,940km2. Roadshows are planned for London on 19 February and Houston on 26 February, and Omnis will have teams at the PESGB Prospex event in London on 12-13 December and at the AAPG’s Appex Global event in London on 27 February-1 March. Companies are required to prequalify before submitting bids and the round closes on 30 May.

UK-registered Victoria Oil & Gas Plc (VOG) said on 28 October it had agreed a 12-month option to acquire Falcon Petroleum Ltd, which has assets in Ethiopia and Mali (AE 147/16). VOG is making efforts to

Operator China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has spudded the Facai-1 well on the Ténéré permit after lengthy delays to exploration caused by security concerns

Upstream E&P has escaped the worst of the global downturn, and buoyed up by the excitement over Ghana and Uganda, plus several gas developments, more activity is expected in 2010, writes Thalia Griffiths

EGYPT: Two new finds for Dana Gas; ETHIOPIA: Government plays down Ogaden rebel threat; GABON: Perenco acquires Marathon fields; NIGERIA: Seismic acquired over Aje field block; SOMALIA: New block for Somaliland bid round; SUDAN: Contract for Seadrill jack-up West Prospero

Ophir Energy has rejected a bid approach from Indonesia’s Medco Energi, saying it significantly undervalued the company which was now well positioned to generate income from its expanded south-east Asia portfolio. Medco must state by 28 January whether it intends to make a formal bid. Ophir said on 5 January it had received notification from Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons that the Block R licence, which contains the Fortuna gas discovery, would not be extended following its expiry on 31 December 2018.

Tuareg and Toubou rebels have denounced an agreement with a Chinese company to explore the Agadem block in eastern Niger and build a refinery and pipeline, and warned of reprisals if development goes ahead (AE 140/11).

Edinburgh-based Bowleven has revised its option agreement with Vitol E&P for the potentially gas-rich offshore Etinde permit.